Tag Archives: Wild Rose Press

August 12, 2016 · 1:08 pm

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 83 – Elvis Week – The 39th Anniversary of His Death

[INTRO: I am a die hard, card carrying Elvis fan and have been for as long as I can remember. There is so much about Elvis to love; his incredible singing voice, his generous spirit, his looks (the most gorgeous man ever), his movies (yes, his movies. They make me happy, so critics can just shush), his service in the army, his magical presence on stage, his transcendent charisma, and…I could go on and on. As a matter of fact, on my 50th post, I believe it was, I DID go on and on. I listed 50 things I love about Elvis. It wasn’t difficult. I am an author and I mention Elvis in almost every story I write. I named my son Presley. I was fortunate to see Elvis in concert three times. I have been to Graceland five times… See? I love Elvis. I have been blogging weekly for more than a year, but going forward, I will blog every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. My life is insanely busy and I found myself missing weeks from time to time. This way, I’m more likely to be consistent. Hopefully, even if you are not an Elvis fan, you appreciate something about him and will find my posts interesting. Feel free to comment. Thank you so much for stopping by!]

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This coming Tuesday, August 16th, marks the 39th anniversary of Elvis’ death. I know I’ve said this before, but it just does NOT seem like it has been nearly four decades since we lost him. 

‘Elvis Week’ is, as the name implies, a week honoring Elvis. It began in 1978, the year after he passed away, starting with a small group of Elvis fans. It has grown like crazy and now is a huge event spanning several days and including multiple guests and a horde of attendees. More evidence that no other entertainer ever has, or ever will, have the kind of impact on the world that Elvis had.

I have yet to visit Graceland during Elvis week. On one hand, I would love to so that I can help be a part of something so monumental and be with thousands of other Elvis fans. On the other hand, I prefer visiting Graceland when it’s not quite such a frenzy of people and activity.

There are many events during Elvis week I would love to see, especially the presentations by those who actually knew him, his friends, co-stars, etc. But something I have no interest in whatsoever—and it is one of the main things Elvis week features–are the Tribute Artists. As I’ve said many times, I do NOT like Elvis impersonators. If it’s not the real thing, then it is nothing to me, not even the slightest bit interesting, appealing, or entertaining. I don’t understand why Graceland and those who knew and loved Elvis are so gung-ho about these guys who try to dress and sing like him. Yes, I know they changed it to ‘Tribute Artists,’ presumably to sound less like they are simply imitating and, in some cases, not very well. To me, rather than being a tribute, I find it a little disrespectful. I know ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’ but again, I don’t need an imitator. I need the REAL thing. But maybe that’s just me?

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Here are some events that I would love to attend:

  • A Sock Hop with DJ Argo  – Elvis music, dancing, games, and giveaways.
  • Hound Dog Tour: A Musical City Tour Celebrating Elvis by Backbeat Tours – A tour going from BB King’s Blues Club on a bus playing Elvis music. It shows where he grew up, where he went to school, where he worked, and sites important to his early career. It includes an optional visit inside the Presley family apartment at Lauderdale Courts – meticulously restored to its 1950s appearance, a visit to Apartment 328 of the Courts is like taking a step back in time, offering an unparalleled glimpse into the lives of Vernon, Gladys, and young Elvis. The tour includes exciting sites such as Sun Studio, Elvis’ Audubon Drive home, Humes High School, the Overton Park Shell (the amphitheater where he performed his first big show in 1954), Lansky Bros. clothing store, the Memphian Theater and the Chisca Hotel (home of the WHBQ radio station).
  • The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley – Performances by gospel singers who shared the stage with Elvis, and some who were influenced by his music. Elvis imagery and videos will play on a big screen throughout the performance.  
  • Conversations on Elvis: Elvis Co-Stars – Two of his co-stars this year that I would really like to see are Warren Berlinger, one of his co-stars in “Spinout” and Celeste Yarnall, a co-star in “Live a Little, Love a Little” This is Elvis and Celeste from the movie:

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  • An Afternoon with Elvis’ Piano Man, Glen D. Hardin – Elvis’ Piano player shares music and stories.
  • The Sound and Soul of Memphis –  Blues music by local musicians. Performances of Elvis song and other rock, blues and soul music.
  • The Candlelight Vigil
  • George Klein’s Elvis Memorial Service

 Some interesting tidbits about Elvis week can be found here:

http://blog.graceland.com/10-things-you-might-not-know-about-elvis-week/

Maybe I’ll try to go next year. The 40th anniversary of his death should be quite a blowout. Thank you for joining me.   Have a wonderful weekend!

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EOLS Charity

Elvis was known for his giving heart and charitable work during his lifetime. Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley Enterprises have continued that tradition with their involvement in various charities. In 1984, The Elvis Charitable Foundation was formed. The EPCF created a scholarship fund for students majoring in the arts. The charity also contributes to one of Elvis’ favorite charities, Goodwill Homes, a Memphis facility that provides counseling and services for abused children and their families. The EPCF also assists numerous other charities, especially focusing on arts, education and children’s programs.

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.

EndofLonelyStreet_w9180_FINAL

All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.

Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Click Here for Kindle

Click Here for Nook

6 Comments

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July 29, 2016 · 12:27 pm

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 82 – The Movies 23-25 (1967) – Easy Come, Easy Go – Clambake – Double Trouble

[INTRO: I am a die hard, card carrying Elvis fan and have been for as long as I can remember. There is so much about Elvis to love; his incredible singing voice, his generous spirit, his looks (the most gorgeous man ever), his movies (yes, his movies. They make me happy, so critics can just shush), his service in the army, his magical presence on stage, his transcendent charisma, and…I could go on and on. As a matter of fact, on my 50th post, I believe it was, I DID go on and on. I listed 50 things I love about Elvis. It wasn’t difficult. I am an author and I mention Elvis in almost every story I write. I named my son Presley. I was fortunate to see Elvis in concert three times. I have been to Graceland five times… See? I love Elvis. I have been blogging weekly for more than a year, but going forward, I will blog every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. My life is insanely busy and I found myself missing weeks from time to time. This way, I’m more likely to be consistent. Hopefully, even if you are not an Elvis fan, you appreciate something about him and will find my posts interesting. Feel free to comment. Thank you so much for stopping by!]

Easy Come, Easy Go:

Not one of my top Elvis movies, but as long as I can look at him, I enjoy ANY of his movies.  I didn’t feel Elvis and his love interest had much chemistry, and Elvis usually has great chemistry with his leading ladies. Also, their love story didn’t really develop. They didn’t have many moments or sexual tension, etc, but at the end, they were just together.

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About: Elvis plays Lt. Ted Jackson, a Navy frogman who recently got out of the service and is singing for a living. He discovers a buried treasure and decides to go after it. The treasure belonged to the grandfather of Elvis’ love interest (played by Dodie Marshall who was also in Spinout). She is none too pleased to learn Elvis is after it, but she decides to help him after extracting a promise that he’ll donate the money to a commune for her hippie artsy friends. Someone else is after the treasure too, and although there are some dicey moments at the end, with a little help from his friends, Elvis gets the treasure and the girl. However, they discover the coins are not gold and are almost worthless. The ‘team’ donates their shares to the girl anyway, so she has enough to help her friends. 

Side notes: The move was originally planned by Paramount as a vehicle for Jan and Dean, but after a train wreck that injured them an many of their crew, the project ws scrapped and the script was rewritten for Elvis.

This was the last movie Elvis and Hal Wallis did together.

The director, John Rich, is the only director in Elvis’ movie career he didn’t get along with. He’d also directed Roustabout. While filming a scene in Easy Come, Easy Go, Elvis and Red West kept screwing up and laughing. The director was pissed and threw all of Elvis’ buddies out. Elvis was furious. He told the director and producers, “Now, just a minute. We’re doing these movies because it’s supposed to be fun, nothing more. Now when they cease to be fun, then we’ll cease to do them.” 

Favorite Song: I wasn’t crazy about the songs in this movie, but I suppose my favorite would be You Gotta Stop. The title song isn’t bad. 

Favorite Scene: It would probably have to be him in the all-black shirt and pants doing yoga. Adorable!

 

Double Trouble:

I enjoyed this movie because it was different, since it took place in Europe and had sort of a crime caper feel to it. It was actually filmed in California. Other than when in the army, Elvis never visited Europe.  Elvis had many scenes in fog,  which is very sexy. 🙂

 

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About: Elvis plays Guy Lambert, an American singer who falls for a teenage heiress whose uncle, it turns out, is trying to kill her. They are chased and murder is attempted throughout the movie until the end, where the bad guys are caught and Elvis gets the girl. 

Side Notes: An Elvis fan bought a jacket as a gift to Elvis. Elvis told her to watch the movie carefully when it came out. The film came out and she saw that the jacket was in the suitcase which belongs to Elvis’ character on film.

This was the first and only movie Annette Day (his leading lady) ever made.

Elvis gave Annette a sports car as a gift, which she later gave to her brother.

Favorite Song: Probably Long-Legged Girl. 

Favorite Scenes: I loved any of the scenes where he fought. And there was a really sexy part where he threw a chair through a glass window. I loved this line after the rich uncle says that as a musician Elvis can’t have much money. Then he says, “I didn’t mean to offend.” Elvis says, “I’m not  offended, I’m just in a hurry. I don’t want to lose my place in the brad line.” In this really annoyed sexy way. (Are you sensing a ‘sexy’ theme to my recap of Elvis movies???) 🙂

 

Clambake

LOVE this movie. Sigh…Elvis was so sexy and I always love Shelley Fabares as his leading lady. And, Bill Bixby is in it, and I loved watching him in Elvis movies. He plays the perfect cad in Clambake. This was another movie where people said Elvis was fat. UGH…SO not true.

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About: Elvis plays Scott Heyward, the rich son of a rich oil field magnate who is discouraged because he feels women only love him for his money. (Yeah, right!). He takes off for some ‘me-time’ and heads to Miami Beach. On the way, he meets poor water ski instructor, Tom Wilson, and they switch identities so Scott can see what it’s like to have people know him for who he really is. He meets Shelley (Dianne), who is there to look for a rich man and finds him in the form of Bill Bixby. But, of course, she ends up falling for Elvis, he wins the boat race and all live Happily Ever After. One reason I love this movie so much is that there was true chemistry between Elvis and Shelley, and there were some emotional, angsty moments that I always enjoy. You could really see the romance develop, which was lacking in some of his films.  

Side Notes: 

The movie was set in Florida but filmed in California. In some shots, you can see the California mountains in the background. 🙂

Elvis was becoming more discouraged with his film career at the time this movie was made and he and his buddies pulled more shenanigans than usual on the set.

Elvis’ character used a mobile phone and the gas station attendant remarked something to the effect of, “That must be one heck of a long cord.”

One of the children at the playground during the song “Confidence” is Corbin Bernsen.

Lee Majors visited the set and filmed a cameo; he can be seen in the background of the restaurant scene, wearing a fake mustache.

Favorite Song: Probably “You Don’t Know Me” – Check it out here: 


Favorite Scene:  Just before he sings the above song. Shelley comes to see him before her big date with Jameson (Bill Bixby) and the scene is charged with sexual tension. She turns to leave and Elvis says, “Hey, come here.” (in this cave-man sexy way) She returns to him and he takes her hanky from her purse and says, “Blot.” He blots her lips and then tosses the hanky away aggressively and tugs her hair out of its pins and settles it loosely around her shoulders. He gives her a smoldering look and says, “Unless Jameson is blind, maybe he can see the forest for the trees.” Sigh…

Thank you for joining me. Have you seen these movies? What did you think? 

~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*

EOLS Charity

Elvis was known for his giving heart and charitable work during his lifetime. Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley Enterprises have continued that tradition with their involvement in various charities. In 1984, The Elvis Charitable Foundation was formed. The EPCF created a scholarship fund for students majoring in the arts. The charity also contributes to one of Elvis’ favorite charities, Goodwill Homes, a Memphis facility that provides counseling and services for abused children and their families. The EPCF also assists numerous other charities, especially focusing on arts, education and children’s programs.

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.

EndofLonelyStreet_w9180_FINAL

All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.

Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Click Here for Kindle

Click Here for Nook

4 Comments

Filed under Elvis Presley, Entertainment

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

April 11, 2016 · 8:37 am

The Penhallow Train Incident by M.S. Spencer

Please help me welcome today’s guest, M.S. Spencer….

 

Thank you for having me today, Alicia. I’d like to talk to your readers about my romantic suspense mystery, The Penhallow Train Incident, new from The Wild Rose Press. I’d love to give a e-copy of Penhallow to one commenter, chosen at random. Please be sure to leave your email address in the comment.

A corpse, hidden treasure, and the search for a tomb equal romance and adventure in coastal Maine.

The Penhallow Train Incident is set in the fictional town of Penhallow. Midcoast Maine sits right about where the state begins to change from heading due north to “down East.” The land is quite different from the southern beaches or the North Woods. Fronting Penobscot Bay, it is a region of lakes, farms, small villages, and lobstermen. Most people have lived there for generations, and refer to anyone who moves to Maine from elsewhere as “from away.” Our heroine Rachel Tinker and her hero Griffin Tate are both from away, but when a series of murders roils their adopted town, they spring into action.

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Blurb

In the sleepy coastal Maine town of Penhallow, a stranger dies on a train, drawing Historical Society Director, Rachel Tinker, and curmudgeonly retired professor, Griffin Tate, into a spider’s web of archaeological obsession and greed. With the help of the victim’s rival, they set out to locate the Queen of Sheba’s tomb. Their plans are stymied when a war erupts between the sheriff and a state police detective who want to arrest the same man for different crimes. It’s up to Rachel to solve a mystery that includes two more murders, if she wants to unlock the soft heart that beats under Griffin’s hard crust.

Excerpt (G): We Meet Griffin

“Say, Rachel, weren’t you taking tickets for the excursion on Saturday? You must have seen the victim. What did he look like?”

Before Rachel could answer, they heard an angry growl from the bar. “God damn it, can’t a man eat his lunch in peace? God damn ghouls around here.” Griffin scratched his stubbly chin and pointed a fretful finger at the women. “You’d think no one had ever been killed before, the way you people go on and on.”

Rachel, enchanted by the way his eyes shimmered in the sunlight, didn’t respond. Maude snapped, “Professor Tate, just because you’re an old roué doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a little mystery. Not much happens in Penhallow after all. We’re entitled to some excitement.”

Griffin bristled at her. “A man is dead, Maude. This isn’t a movie.”

“Well,” she bristled back, “at least he was from away.”

Griffin gave her a long, hard look and, before turning back to his plate, muttered, “Like me.”

For some reason his words struck hard at Rachel’s heart. She couldn’t see his face, and knew it wouldn’t show the hurt anyway, but she could feel it from across the room. To a Mainer, anyone who couldn’t trace his Maine lineage back to at least the French and Indian War was considered “from away.” Locals usually felt no more than amiable indulgence for the odd critters, but now and then the innate prejudice came out. “Maude—that wasn’t nice. After all, I’m from away too.”

~

The Penhallow Train Incident
The Wild Rose Press, 3/30/2016, Crimson Rose Line
Contemporary romantic suspense/Cozy Mystery; Sensual (PG-PG13)
Ebook 79,665 words, Print 334 p.

Buy Links:

TWRP: print: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=6750
TWRP ebook: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6696
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-penhallow-train-incident-ms-spencer/1122175522?ean=2940157886295
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Penhallow-Train-Incident-M-Spencer-ebook/dp/B01BOBX5NC
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thepenhallowtrainincident-1979765-149.html
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/the-penhallow-train-incident-0
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-penhallow-train-incident-1
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-penhallow-train-incident/id1082171175?mt=11

 

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About the Author:

Although M. S. Spencer has lived or traveled in five continents, the last thirty years were spent mostly in Washington, D.C. as a librarian, Congressional staff assistant, speechwriter, editor, birdwatcher, kayaker, policy wonk, non-profit director and parent. She has two fabulous grown children and a perfect granddaughter, and currently divides her time between the Gulf coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine.

Contacts

Blog: http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com OR
http://bit.ly/1aBzraT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msspencerromance
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/msspencerauthor
Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MSSpencerauthor
GoodReads:http://www.goodreads.com/msspencer
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/msspencerauthor/

Author Pages:

Romance Books 4 Us: http://romancebooks4us.com/Romance%20Author%20M.%20S.%20Spencer.html OR
http://bit.ly/1d6ehza

Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/M.S.-Spencer/e/B002ZOEUC8/

OTHER BOOKS BY M. S. SPENCER

Romantic suspense and mystery, they are available in ebook and print from The Wild Rose Press, I Heart Book Publishing, and all fine on-line book stores. For more information, visit http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html

Dear Philomena: Love, Lust and Murder on Chincoteague Island
Mai Tais & Mayhem: Murder at Mote Marine (a Sarasota Romance)
Triptych

Coming soon from The Wild Rose Press:
The Mason’s Mark: Love and Death in the Tower (an Old Town Romance)
Artful Dodging: The Torpedo Factory Murders (an Old Town Romance)
Whirlwind Romance

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Filed under Author Blog Post, New Release

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February 12, 2016 · 10:21 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 72 – Random Facts and Songs You May Not Have Heard

[INTRO: I am a die hard, card carrying Elvis fan and have been for as long as I can remember. There is so much about Elvis to love; his incredible singing voice, his generous spirit, his looks (the most gorgeous man ever), his movies (yes, his movies. They make me happy, so critics can just shush), his service in the army, his magical presence on stage, his transcendent charisma, and…I could go on and on. As a matter of fact, on my 50th post, I believe it was, I DID go on and on. I listed 50 things I love about Elvis. It wasn’t difficult. I am an author and I mention Elvis in almost every story I write. I named my son Presley. I was fortunate to see Elvis in concert three times. I have been to Graceland five times… See? I love Elvis. I have been blogging weekly for more than a year, but going forward, I will blog every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. My life is insanely busy and I found myself missing weeks from time to time. This way, I’m more likely to be consistent. Hopefully, even if you are not an Elvis fan, you appreciate something about him and will find my posts interesting. Feel free to comment. Thank you so much for stopping by!]

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Some interesting, random facts… (Well, to me, everything about Elvis is interesting. :))

In 1954, when Elvis was cutting some early records at Sun Studios, he auditioned for an amateur gospel quartet called the Songfellows. They turned him down. Ha, can you imagine???? I would bet they sorely regretted that.

Not only was Elvis a direct descendant of Abraham Lincoln’s great-great grandfather, Isaiah Harrison, he was a distant cousin of Jimmy Carter.

In 1973, Elvis gave Muhammad Ali a $10,000 white robe, with the words “People’s Champion” emblazoned across the back. Ali was touched, and wore the robe on 31 March, when he fought Ken Norton for the first time. Norton broke Ali’s jaw in the second round, before winning a 12-round decision. Ali vowed never to wear the robe again, although he maintained his friendship with Elvis.

In 1976, Paul McCartney’s wife, Linda, purchased the stand up bass used by Bill Black (a member of Elvis’ original band). The McCartney’s knew someone in Nashville who knew Bill Black’s family. The bass was just sitting in a barn. In a PBS performance here while back, Paul unveiled the bass before a small studio audience. With the instrument in his hands, he visualized himself being on stage with Elvis. “If I were Bill Black, then Elvis would have been right there,” he observed, pointing to a spot just a few feet in front of him. Then he played the bass while singing Heartbreak Hotel. I would guess the bass is extremely special to Paul, not only because it belonged to Bill Black, but because his beloved wife Linda gave it to him.

Some of Elvis’ best songs were not all that well-known by many people, even those who ‘liked’ Elvis but weren’t obsessive Elvis fans. Are you familiar with these?

How many of those have you heard? I love them all, and I think they should have been huge hits. Not sure what happened there.

I’ll leave you with a quick little anecdote and a song I’m sure you’ve heard, but I’ve recently re-fallen in love with it:

My favorite line is “Baby if you ever loved me, then Bonnie and Clyde loved the law.”  🙂  So cute!

A while back, I worked on the assembly line for General Motors. I listened to Elvis radio the entire time, which made the long, boring hours so much easier to handle. A guy I worked with once commented that he couldn’t understand how I listened to Elvis, and only Elvis, for all those hours. He said, “I like Led Zepplin every bit as much as you like Elvis, and I couldn’t listen to them non-stop.” I replied, “Then obviously, you don’t like Led Zepplin’ as much as I like Elvis.” DUH…am I right?  🙂

Thank you for stopping by…Happy Friday!

 

~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*

EOLS Charity

Elvis was known for his giving heart and charitable work during his lifetime. Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley Enterprises have continued that tradition with their involvement in various charities. In 1984, The Elvis Charitable Foundation was formed. The EPCF created a scholarship fund for students majoring in the arts. The charity also contributes to one of Elvis’ favorite charities, Goodwill Homes, a Memphis facility that provides counseling and services for abused children and their families. The EPCF also assists numerous other charities, especially focusing on arts, education and children’s programs.

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.

EndofLonelyStreet_w9180_FINAL

All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.

Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Click Here for Kindle

Click Here for Nook

8 Comments

Filed under Elvis Presley, Entertainment

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

January 30, 2016 · 11:07 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 71 – The Movies 17-19 (1966) –Frankie and Johnny, Paradise Hawaiian Style, Spinout

[INTRO: I am a die hard, card carrying Elvis fan and have been for as long as I can remember. There is so much about Elvis to love; his incredible singing voice, his generous spirit, his looks (the most gorgeous man ever), his movies (yes, his movies. They make me happy, so critics can just shush), his service in the army, his magical presence on stage, his transcendent charisma, and…I could go on and on. As a matter of fact, on my 50th post, I believe it was, I DID go on and on. I listed 50 things I love about Elvis. It wasn’t difficult. I am an author and I mention Elvis in almost every story I write. I named my son Presley. I was fortunate to see Elvis in concert three times. I have been to Graceland five times… See? I love Elvis. I have been blogging weekly for more than a year, but going forward, I will blog every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. My life is insanely busy and I found myself missing weeks from time to time. This way, I’m more likely to be consistent. Hopefully, even if you are not an Elvis fan, you appreciate something about him and will find my posts interesting. Feel free to comment. Thank you so much for stopping by!]

Frankie and Johnny:

This wasn’t one of my top Elvis movies, but I enjoyed it. As a kid, I wasn’t aware it was set in the 1800’s. I just thought everyone was dressing in costumes. Although, as an adult, I must admit it’s not entirely clear. I believe some mixed signals were sent. The costumes and some of the references, such as a reference to confederate money, indicate the 1800’s, but some of the dialogue sounds a little more modern, such as Elvis using the word ‘chicks’ to refer to girls.  🙂 

frankie
About: Elvis plays Johnny, a performer on a Mississippi riverboat with a gambling addiction. I wonder how tis would of played out if online casinos for real money existed back then. He and the other performs put on a short production that plays out the lyrics of the song, ‘Frankie and Johnny.’ When a gypsy tells him a redhead will change his luck, and he promptly meets a gorgeous redhead, he begins winning with her at his side, but he loses his girlfriend, Frankie, played by Donna Douglas. Of course, he gets the girl in the end, even though there is a close call. A well-meaning but misguided dufus switches out a blank for a real bullet and when Johnny and Frankie perform their routine and Frankie shoots Johnny for two-timing her, the bullet hits his lucky charm Frankie had given him, rather than his heart. As a child, I was terrified until I learned Elvis was okay, which was only a few brief moments. 🙂

Side notes: Elvis and Donna Douglas spent a lot of time discussing religion on the set. They didn’t have a romantic relationship as he did with many of his leading ladies. I didn’t see a lot of chemistry between them on screen either. As you all probably know, she played Elly May Clampett on ‘The Beverly Hillbillies.’ I couldn’t help notice in this movie, she had that same ‘Elly May’ posture where her shoulders tilted forward a lot. 🙂 I’m not sure if it shows all that well in this video, but it does a little. There are other parts of the movie where it’s more obvious. However, this is also my favorite song from the movie, and perhaps my favorite scene, so it’s worth watching.

The movie people thought Elvis was ‘fat’ and supposedly used an image from ‘Girl Happy’ for the body on this album cover:

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I think he looked pretty damn good…

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Favorite Song: ‘Please Don’t Stop Loving Me’ (Although I like the title song a lot too)

Favorite Scene: Either his fight scene. As you can see in the above pic, he looks pretty sexy fighting. Or, it would be the scene in the video above where he’s trying to win Frankie back by singing to her. He does that sexy, hurt thing pretty darn well. 🙂 – Hmmm…I seem to be using the word ‘sexy’ a lot. Go figure! 🙂

Paradise Hawaiian Style

Definitely not a top pick. There honestly wasn’t much of a story and the songs weren’t great. Still, any time I can watch Elvis, I am not upset. 🙂 Something I noticed in this one, unless I missed it, he never kissed Suzanna Leigh, the leading lady. He kissed several other girls, but not his love interest. As a matter of fact, this movie seemed pretty weak in the romance department. Elvis’ friend and business partner told Elvis the girl was married, and Elvis barely paid attention to her during the entire movie. Then, suddenly, they’re in love, I suppose. Although, nothing really indicates that they are. They just sort of get together. At the end, Elvis is about to kiss her and he’s pulled away by some local islanders to perform and the movie ends after his performance. He didn’t even tug the girl onto the ‘stage’ with him for a movie-ending kiss. Not sure what that was all about.

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About: Elvis plays Rick Richards, a pilot who is suspended for hanky panky with a stewardess. He goes to Hawaii where his friend joins him in a helicopter business. His friend hires ‘Friday,’ a good-looking blonde, to run the office, but they tell Elvis she’s married so he’ll keep his playboy paws off of her. Toward the end of the movie, they confess she’s not married, and Elvis says he knew all along, he can spot ’em a mile away. (or something to that effect). Then, after that, they are ‘a couple’ even though, as mentioned above, there really wasn’t any romance that lead up to it. It would have been better, if perhaps a little cliche, if Elvis had resisted his feelings and felt bad about yearning for a married woman, then he was hurt when he realized she’d lied to him.  

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Side Notes: 

Elvis loved Hawaii and was always happy to be there. This movie was supposed to be an attempt to duplicate the success of ‘Blue Hawaii,’ but it failed to reach that goal.

One thing I always love is when kids are in Elvis’ movies. The kid star in this one was ten-year-old Donna Butterworth, who was a singer/performer in Hawaii. This was her third and final movie. She did an interview years later where she was asked what it was like to work with Elvis. She said he was professional, but a kind and wonderful human being. She was confused because Priscilla was on the set, yet she saw Elvis kissing all these other girls. Elvis invited her to lunch. He and his bodyguards picked her up on a golf cart and took her to his dressing room. From Donna’s interview: “He had cheese burgers and I had tacos from Del Taco because that was my favorite. He set there for an hour explaining to me the difference between love and being in love. He explained it in a very loving way. God wants us to love all his brothers and sisters. We are making a movie that’s apart of the story line, but of course you can only be in love with only one person and that is Priscilla. So here is the king of rock and roll sitting down with cheeseburgers and tacos. Taking time out in his enormous life to explain it to ten year old me.”

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Favorite Song: The songs were not his best. (I hate to sound critical. I adore anything Elvis did. I’m just comparing this to his other movies and songs). Probably the one I liked best was Datin’  where he did a duet with the little girl. 

Favorite Scene: Not any particular awesome scenes in this one. I always love it when he fights and sings. He had some cute moments with the child.

Spinout:

Now we’re talking. Loved this movie. It had great songs, a cute story line, amusing dialogue, and all kinds of fun, fun Elvis stuff. I vividly remember watching this one as a child. I was a bit confused, though, at the end. Elvis doesn’t end up with a girl, although three were chasing him all through the movie. When the three suitors of those women demanded that Elvis choose, he said he was going to marry all of them. Then, it went to a scene where he took turns kissing each of the women, who were wearing wedding dresses, and after Elvis kissed them, he said things like: ‘I married Cynthia, to Philip’, and he passed the girl along to her ‘guy.’ My sister and I determined that Elvis must have been a preacher, although it was a well-kept secret during the movie. 🙂 

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About: Elvis plays  Mike McCoy, a singer and race car driver. A rich girl sets her sights on him. She wants to marry him and her father wants him to drive his car in an upcoming race. Elvis’ drummer, a girl named Les, and another woman, an author, Diana St. Clair, are all vying for Elvis’ hand in marriage, but he is a confirmed bachelor. The rich father and his daughter scheme and manipulate Elvis, but in the end, he’s his own man. He wins the race without the rich man’s fancy car, and he avoids the clutches of matrimony. 

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Elvis with the ‘rich girl’ played by Shelley Fabares

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Elvis with his drummer, played by Deborah Walley.

blogspecial-guests

Elvis with the author, played by Diane McBain

Side Notes: President Lyndon Johnson visited Elvis on the set of the movie. 

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This was one of three Elvis movies Shelley Fabares co-starred in, although in the other two, ‘Clambake’ and ‘Girl Happy,’ she was his love interest and she got him in the end.

The two male members of Elvis’ band, Larry and Curly, were each in one of Elvis’ other movies.

Shelley and the actor who played her father, Carl Betz, were also father and daughter in ‘The Donna Reed Show.’ Jimmy Hawkins, who played Larry in the movie, also appeared in ‘The Donna Reed Show.’

Some of the filming took place at Dodger Stadium and at Ascot Motor Car Racing Ground.

Oddly enough, this is one of the few movies in which Elvis did not have a fight scene.

Favorite Song: This is kind of tough. He sang two beautiful ballads, ‘Am I Ready’ and ‘All That I Am’ and I love them both, but my favorite is probably ‘I’ll Be Back,’ which was also a favorite of my middle child, Lacey, when she was about two years old. I had it on a CD and each time we got into the car, she demanded I play “BeBack.” 🙂 One thing I love so much about the song is the way he performed it, including the cute drum playing toward the end. (He ends up with a gorgeous brunette drummer, so a future romance is definitely foreshadowed) Check it out:

Favorite Scenes: I had a few favorites… One was when his drummer, Les, a girl who was looked at as ‘one of the guys,’ dressed up and came into the room where Elvis was singing at a party. He stumbled over his words and the look he gave her was sooooo sexy and sweet. I also loved the scene at the beginning when Shelley Fabares runs him off the road into the water. He’s furious, while she’s up on the road above, acting as though nothing happened and gushing about how much she likes him. She says, “I really go for you.” and he angrily says, “Honey, I’m just about to go for you.” And he threatens to ‘paddle her bottom.’ 

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Another of my favorite scenes was a brief moment where the author is spying on Elvis through binoculars and he approaches and stares back at her through the other end of the binoculars and we get a close up of his gorgeous eyes:

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All in all a ‘feel good’ movie that put me in a great mood, as do all of his movies. 🙂

 

Thank you for joining me. Have you seen these movies? What did you think?

 

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EOLS Charity

Elvis was known for his giving heart and charitable work during his lifetime. Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley Enterprises have continued that tradition with their involvement in various charities. In 1984, The Elvis Charitable Foundation was formed. The EPCF created a scholarship fund for students majoring in the arts. The charity also contributes to one of Elvis’ favorite charities, Goodwill Homes, a Memphis facility that provides counseling and services for abused children and their families. The EPCF also assists numerous other charities, especially focusing on arts, education and children’s programs.

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.

EndofLonelyStreet_w9180_FINAL

All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.

Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Click Here for Kindle

Click Here for Nook

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January 14, 2016 · 10:22 am

New Release Spotlight – Sandra Dailey “Close Enemy” from The Wild Rose Press – PLUS a Giveaway!

Check out this new release from Sandra Dailey. I LOVE the cover. Sounds like an awesome read!

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Blurb – Caleb McCrae is a powerful man with a broken soul. In six years, Leah was the only person to help him forget the painful memories, but only for one night. Now she seems to have disappeared. A mysterious letter arrives, and she’s in trouble…in more ways than one.

Leah Fletcher’s life is complicated. To care for her drug and alcohol addicted mother she works at a sleazy men’s club…until she finds out she’s pregnant and is framed for a crime that lands her in jail. When a stranger visits, she learns her troubles have just begun.

Bogdan Petrov has waited eleven years to get back the money Leah’s father stole from him. Despite her denials, he knows she’s hiding it. He’s arranged to infiltrate every part of her life until he gets what he wants, but soon realizes that an unknown person is doing the same to him.

Excerpt – Caleb sat in a plastic chair in front of a glass window with a telephone mounted on each side at his right. The chair across from him was empty. After five more minutes an inmate was led to the door. When she came into view through a large window, his heart skipped a beat. It was her, Leah.

Her dark ringlets had grown to barely brush her shoulders and looked dull. Her face was pale and sad, but he was sure she was the girl who’d written.

She raised her handcuffs to be checked. The orange scrub top was so big on her the shoulder seams fell several inches down her thin upper arms. There was a chain attached to the cuffs that would be hooked to a belt around her waist. Her feet were probably shackled too. Didn’t they know she was harmless? Caleb rubbed his temples to ward off a gnawing ache. The man on the phone had said seven months. Almost the entire time he’d looked for her, she’d been right here…serving a jail sentence. How had this happened to such a gentle soul? She couldn’t be the woman he’d thought her to be.

When the door opened, she shuffled to the chair across from him. The chains from her wrists and between her feet probably weighed as much as she did. There wasn’t a belt at her waist, though. It hung around her hips…under her basketball-sized belly. Caleb’s stomach twisted and he felt a little lightheaded. She was, without a doubt, pregnant.

 

Question – Have you ever seen someone after a long period of time and found that they’d drastically changed?

Prize – Tell us about it in a comment for a chance to win a copy of the first book, Common Enemy, for you Kindle or Nook. Be sure to include your email address. I’ll choose my favorite answer on Saturday, January 16, 2016. Return to this post or my Facebook page that afternoon to see who won.

 

Bio – Sandra Dailey lives with her husband and mother in a small town in North Florida, far from the maddening crowds. Her children and grandchildren all live close and keep her ridiculously busy and active. Her passions are reading, writing, and crafts. Her addictions are coffee, chocolate, and football. Her aversions are cooking, housework and negative people. She loves to hear from fellow readers and writers, so get in touch.

Website/Blog: http://www.sandradailey.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sandradailey.author

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sdaileyauthor

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/sandradailey

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6551048.Sandra_Dailey

 

 

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November 11, 2015 · 7:54 am

What the River Knows by Katherine Pritchett – Suspense Debut Novel from The Wild Rose Press

Please help me welcome Katherine Pritchett and her debut novel, What the River Knows. I’m especially pleased to host Katherine, since I was fortunate to be her editor for this tense, compelling read. 

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Click to be taken to the buy pages:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

The Wild Rose Press

Blurb:

When a hometown girl is brutally murdered, Detective Scott Aylward vows to bring a killer to justice. His focus on the case further damages his failing marriage and reinforces the knowledge that he always fails those who matter most–his parents, his boss, his wife, but most of all the victims who expect him to bring them justice.

His search for the killer takes him back to his roots and crosses his path with the missing piece of the puzzle. When the shocking truth is finally revealed, he finds himself unarmed and face to face with the killer. This time, failing might cost him his life.

Excerpt:

He slowed his pace within twenty feet of a gray and twisted tree trunk that must have once supported a massive cottonwood, but now instead provided a windbreak that allowed sand to settle in its lee and let shrubs gain a foothold. He looked down the sloping bank of the dike toward the river, noting the lazy flow as it rippled barely a foot deep in half a dozen shallow braided channels within the banks. A gray heron took off from a sand bar, long legs dangling behind him.

He stopped and squatted to view the path from a different angle. Just this side of the tree trunk, he saw indistinct grooves in the sand of the path that could have been made by a body being dragged. Big bluestem waved behind the tree trunk, and a sand plum thicket guarded the north side of the approach. Buffalo grass carpeted the ground from the path to the tree, obscuring any sign from this angle. He stood up again.

Now it looked like there were faint marks in the grass, here and there, that could be drag marks. He continued on the other side of the path, careful not to disturb the sign. At last he was even with the northern edge of the sand plum thicket. Again, he went down to see what he could observe from this angle. He spotted some broken branches and a few tufts of buff fur, where the dog had bounded in to make his discovery and dragged the man in his wake. He followed the path of fur and branches with his eyes, and finally saw something large and too pale a pink to belong in that environment. Reminding himself to stay detached and professional, he stepped up on the tree trunk to get a better view.

And now, let’s get to know Katherine…

Where did you get the idea for What the River Knows?

This book was inspired by a murder nearly 40 years ago that is still unsolved. My suggestion about what might have happened and the character of the victim is purely my imagination, however.

Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?

It just seemed to me that the river witnessed the crime. It knew; now if it would only tell.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?

Other than knowing when to stop editing and revising and consider it done, I find I hit a spot about 2/3 through when it’s time to up the ante and start the wrap up. Sometimes I find myself floundering here trying to find that exact point.

What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?

I quit writing on this one for a long time, because it was taking me someplace dark. I worked on a romance and life seemed to be imitating art, as I fell in love. Then my love died of leukemia after we only had five months together, and I couldn’t write on the romance any more. Then, the dark place I was already in found an outlet in this book, and brought me back to the light.

Are there any tricks or habits you use when creating a story?

I use music to create a mood. Romantic ballads for a love scene, exciting music for chase scenes. Then I try to write as if an actor would have to convey all emotions without the narration. This makes it easier to show, don’t tell.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and how do you like it?

I work for a natural resource agency and have for 30 years. I love most of the work (get a bit frustrated with the red tape from time to time). The job has taken me from coast to coast and got me behind the scenes for experiences not available to the general public. The people I work with in my agency and others are passionate about what they do for the benefit of the public and the natural resources we protect.

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?

If I could just quit procrastinating, I would have so much more time for writing and everything else I need to do. However, sometimes the time I spend just sitting on my porch watching birds gives me insights I wouldn’t have if I were more efficient. I’ll quit procrastinating—someday.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read What the River Knows?

I hope the readers of any of my books come away with a greater understanding of how multi-dimensional human beings are. Good guys, bad guys, victims, bystanders, perpetrators: all have wants and needs and reasons for the things they do. When those reasons collide, we have conflict. Someday, maybe we’ll learn to avoid those collisions. We’ll learn to foster each other’s humanity.

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?

Science fiction.

What is your favorite quote?

I don’t know who said it or if I made it up. You can’t choose the hand you’re dealt, but you can choose how you play it.

Thank you so much for joining me, Katherine. I enjoyed the interview and wish you the best!

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October 12, 2015 · 11:17 am

Ten Moments that Changed My Life by Andrea Downing – And her Western Historical Romance, Loveland

Please help me welcome Andrea Downing, who is sharing a Wild Rose Press Western Historical Romance and 10 moments that changed her life…

TEN MOMENTS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

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September 18, 2015 · 1:13 pm

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 62 – Elvis and Colonel Tom Parker

A little over 60 years ago, in August of 1955, Elvis signed a contract with manager, Colonel Tom Parker. The Colonel negotiated a deal with RCA for Elvis’ Sun contract for an unprecedented $40,000, $5,000 of which was a bonus for back royalties owed by Sun Records (Elvis was 20, and officially a minor, so his father had to sign the contract).

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Over the years, many differing accounts regarding their relationship have surfaced. From what I can gather, based on snatches I’ve heard from sources that should be reliable, Colonel Parker was both beneficial and detrimental to Elvis’ career.

No one can argue that Elvis rose to mega superstardom never seen before or since. But how much of that had to do with the Colonel and how much was solely due to Elvis’ phenomenal talent and charisma? It appears the Colonel was more concerned with money than what was good for Elvis. While Elvis received 50% of the profits rather than a per picture fee, he was also more or less forced to star in movies that were considered laughable by some (although I personally enjoyed them immensely), rather than serious movies he could be proud of. As most know, the only movie Elvis made that he liked was King Creole. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of James Dean and Marlon Brando, but supposedly, the Colonel held him back from that. Robert Mitchum wanted Elvis to play in ‘Thunder Road’ but the Colonel refused to allow it.

Other notable Elvis/Colonel facts…

  • By the end of Elvis’ career, the Colonel was taking 50% of Elvis’ earnings, rather than the standard 10% for managers.
  • The Colonel never served in the military, but was given the ‘title’ by a pal. And, while Elvis never learned this, the Colonel’s true name was Andreas Cornelis Van Kujik and he was born in Breda, Holland and in the U.S. illegally. Elvis would have loved to tour overseas, but he was never able to because the Colonel feared deportation.
  • Scotty Moore, who was Elvis’ first manager and his original guitarist tells of a time early in Elvis’ career, before he made it big, when Elvis promised Scotty and Bill Black 50% of his earnings. Scotty told him that was way too much. He said Elvis would make it big and he shouldn’t offer such a high percentage. Scotty told Elvis that, if he wanted to, he could just give them 1%. Elvis agreed, but Parker took over his career and shut Scotty and Bill out of the earnings. Scotty did approach Elvis about it, but the Colonel had so much control over Elvis, he was more or less helpless. Obviously, Elvis was known for his kind heart and generosity, so he most definitely well-compensated those who worked for him. But as far as any contractual agreements, those were all controlled by Parker.

More Elvis Presley photos+ 10,000+ more pictures www.morethings.com/photo_gallery_index.htm

This is a rare and fascinating interview by Ted Koppel with Colonel Parker:

http://coloneltomparker.elvis.com.au/interview_colonel_tom_parker_1987.html

He starts out by saying he had little to do with Elvis’ success, but by the end, he is definitely giving himself a great deal of the credit. He also states that no one told Elvis what to do, but then admits to turning down a script that the producer said could almost guarantee Elvis an Academy Award because they couldn’t pay them what they wanted. I’d say that is a pretty damning admission. No doubt in my mind, the Colonel held Elvis back from doing the serious acting he desired.

I feel that the Colonel was a crafty manager and knew how to make a buck, but I don’t believe that he was the best choice for Elvis, and that Elvis could have done what he did, and perhaps exceeded that and at least had an opportunity to pursue his dream of becoming a serious actor, with someone else managing him. What do you think?

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EOLS Charity

Elvis was known for his giving heart and charitable work during his lifetime. Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley Enterprises have continued that tradition with their involvement in various charities. In 1984, The Elvis Charitable Foundation was formed. The EPCF created a scholarship fund for students majoring in the arts. The charity also contributes to one of Elvis’ favorite charities, Goodwill Homes, a Memphis facility that provides counseling and services for abused children and their families. The EPCF also assists numerous other charities, especially focusing on arts, education and children’s programs.

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.

EndofLonelyStreet_w9180_FINAL

All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.

Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Click Here for Kindle

Click Here for Nook

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September 11, 2015 · 10:07 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 61 – Elvis the Lonely

It’s difficult to understand why, but in spite of Elvis’ fame and the hordes of people who were almost always around him, he was actually very lonely. I think maybe that’s one of the reasons he surrounded himself with so many people, to fight that loneliness. I remember reading this story a while back, from a member of his entourage although I don’t recall which one, (this is the way the story was relayed):

“Elvis had been ill with a cold and he was in the music room playing gospel songs on the piano. I walked into the room and said, ‘How are you feeling, Elvis?’

‘Alone,” said the king.’

Piano-4

Many people who knew him have told similar stories. Longtime girlfriend Linda Thompson said Elvis told her that he was intensely lonely on the inside.

From friend, hairdresser and confidante, Larry Geller (taken from this website:  http://elvispresleybiography.net/index.html)

“Elvis sat in silence for a moment with his eyes fixed on the ground, then looked up at me. ‘No one knows, Larry. No one knows, an’ it might surprise you just how God-awful lonely I get, how empty my life feels sometimes.'”

When I first heard Elvis sing ‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’ back in 1973 during the Aloha from Hawaii concert, and he began with, “I’d like to sing a song that’s probably the saddest song I’ve ever heard” it had a huge impact on me. He’d done Don’t Cry Daddy, In the Ghetto, Long Black Limousine, Mama Liked the Roses, and no doubt heard countless sad songs in his life, yet a song about loneliness was ‘probably one of the saddest’ to him.

Watch the clip and listen to the haunting sadness in his voice. 😦 (Pay special attention to what he does at around :46 seconds. I must apologize in advance for the sexiness he throws in there. The man couldn’t do anything, even be lonely and sad, without also being extremely hot and sexy 🙂 )

Here, I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry is sung by Hank Williams, Sr, who wrote it (and was one of the saddest men I’ve ever heard of.) This song was my dad’s favorite, so it makes me a little sad to listen to it, but it’s sort of a good kind of sad, because it reminds me of my daddy. 🙂

Two legends, two men who had so much talent and such a bright future, but were extremely lonely souls who died too young.

I’ve been alone a lot in my life. I live alone, and I spend a great deal of time by myself. But, I can honestly say, I never feel ‘lonely.’ There is a huge difference between being alone and loneliness. So sad that someone like Elvis had to experience it so intensely.

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I have to wonder if Elvis feeling lonesome had something to do with his stillborn twin, Jesse Garon. Elvis always felt a part of him was missing, and he wondered what his purpose in life was, why he lived when his brother didn’t, and why fame came to him of all people. Most likely, it also stemmed from losing his mother, at a fairly young age, just when he was making it big.

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What do you think? Any ideas about what contributed to his loneliness?

~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*

EOLS Charity

Elvis was known for his giving heart and charitable work during his lifetime. Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley Enterprises have continued that tradition with their involvement in various charities. In 1984, The Elvis Charitable Foundation was formed. The EPCF created a scholarship fund for students majoring in the arts. The charity also contributes to one of Elvis’ favorite charities, Goodwill Homes, a Memphis facility that provides counseling and services for abused children and their families. The EPCF also assists numerous other charities, especially focusing on arts, education and children’s programs.

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.

EndofLonelyStreet_w9180_FINAL

All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.

Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

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