By Vicki Batman (Guest Blogger)
Several years ago, Handsome and I went to our favorite indie theater and saw an interesting documentary, “Finding Vivian Maier.” (Link to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finding_Vivian_Maier ) The documentary follows a young man who bid on a storage locker and found trunks filled with negatives, pictures, and mementos of Vivian. The find evolved into a quest to discover more about this woman.
From analyzing her things, he uncovered people who knew her, talked about her background and her final days. Vivian worked as a nanny. People interviewed said she went everywhere with her twin-lens reflex.
The young man printed photographs and asked professional photographers their thoughts. They believed Vivian had a good eye for photography. Most images were of the children she watched over and the everyday life and people in Chicago.
The movie made an impact on Handsome and me. So much so, when an exhibit of her black and white work traveled to a nearby suburb, we went. The showing rounded out the whole mystery of Who Was Vivian Maier, bringing the pictures featured in the documentary to life.
Then, a few months ago, I read another exhibit came to the same museum, this time featuring her color work. I’m hoping to see this one soon—another continuation of Vivian Maier’s story.
So why speak of a newly discovered photographer/nanny? Many of us have creative pursuits we share with family and friends. I like my crafts, and I’m a writer and have been one of romantic comedy short stories and mysteries for seventeen years. I may not go on to famous glory, but I contributed my creativity and am proud of myself. So many of us are stymied by criticism. I learned what I needed and what I didn’t. Isn’t it better to try than not at all? The learning experience is very enriching.
About Temporarily Out of Luck
Great job. What man? And murder.
Newly employed at Wedding Wonderland, Hattie Cooks is learning the industry from a woman she greatly admires. When her former brother-in-law is found dead in his luxury SUV, all fingers point to Hattie’s sister, who is planning her own I Dos.
Detective Allan Wellborn is caught between a rock and a hard place—Hattie’s family and investigating the murder of a well-connected Sommerville resident, the same loser who was once married to Hattie’s sister. Determining who’s the bad guy—or gal—isn’t going to be easy and sure to piss off someone.
Can Hattie beat the clock to find out who murdered Tracey’s ex before she is charged with the crime and her wedding is ruined?
Excerpt
“Failure’s not a choice. Try again, and if that doesn’t work, again. Are you a quitter?”
“No.” Until I resembled an idiot. I snagged the towel to wrap my torso, feeling indignation root in my tummy. Standing, I adjusted the ends under my armpits and maneuvered the curtain to one side to step over the rim. I opened the hall door. “If only his cell phone wouldn’t interrupt us.” I smiled. “He would probably like the binding part.”
With a grin, Jenny bounced her brows. “I hear police handcuffs are the way to go.”
I laughed. “Funny. What else did he want other than the ride offer?”
“Here.” She plucked my phone from the counter next to the toothpaste tube and a glass jar filled with cotton swabs. “Push one.”
I stared at my phone, utterly amazed. “You assigned a number…on speed dial…on my phone? Without telling me? When did you do this?”
Jenny shrugged. “Long time ago. Seemed prudent.”
Find Temporarily Out of Luck at:
https://www.amazon.com/Temporarily-Luck-Hattie-Cooks-Mystery-ebook/dp/B08T7YSSRJ/
About the Author
Funny, sweet, and quirky, Vicki Batman’s stories are full of her hallmark humor and romance, and will delight all readers. She has sold many award-winning and bestselling romantic comedy works to magazines and most recently, three humorous romantic mysteries. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Cat fancier. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby.
Find Vicki Batman at:
Web and Blogsite: https://www.vickibatman.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vicki-Batman-sassy-writer-of-sexy-and-funny-fiction-133506590074451/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4814608.Vicki_Batman/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vickilbatman/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/vicki-batman
6 comments:
Welcome to Beyond Romance, Vicki!
That sounds like a fascinating film. We never know the traces we leave behind.
Hope the book does really well!
Police handcuffs? I prefer the fur-lined ones.
You're right about the act of doing something creative being enriching to the person doing it. Like you, I've been published for over a decade, but still labor in obscurity--as most of us are destined to do, probably. But the positive feedback I get from those who DO read my books helps ameliorate my disappointment that I'll never get to be called a "best-selling" author.
Hi, Lisabet! I highly recommend the film. I did go see the color exhibit and was blown away. In the grays and whites, she found color in a pink hat, yellow shirts, turquoise swim trunks. She also played with her reflection in objects. Fascinating.
I hope the book does well too. Thank you!
Hi, Fiona! I've been informed I am not a best selling author because my writing isn't good enough. That stung. My writing has won awards. Too many authors are looked over because the best selling ones get a lot of attention, ie, they bring in the dollars. It is a tough business and has changed a lot in my time.
Grr! I hope you don't consider the person who told you that to be a friend!
It's not that your writing isn't good enough--or mine or anyone else's either. Somehow we've never been on the right desk, in front of the right influence-peddler, to make it to the universal zeitgeist.
Why does an unedited series of purple prose-laden BDSM fantasies written by someone with no idea how "the lifestyle" works, get to be so famous she'll never have to work again, by writing fan fiction, then renaming her characters? While people who come up with original stories and characters write their hearts out, to only a small audience? It's not because one writes better than the others. It's luck.
I agree, Fiona. Luck plays a huge role in everything. The stars align. As for the awful comment--some people don't know what they are talking about, like the ones who pout at reading romance.
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