"Classic Ginger" Snippets from Culture Shock Ginger Simpson

This week I'm sharing snippets from Culture Shock, my mystery romance that takes place in San Francisco.  Cynthia Freitas moves from the Midwest to the big city, expecting a different lifestyle.  Imagine her shock to find a serial killer loose in her own backyard, and he's killing women that look just like her...or her body when the old wiring in her run-down tenement causes her first kiss with her handsome neighbor to have a jolting outcome.


The sun was setting when they got back to the Cairns. Alex held the door open. “Here we are, back to reality.”

Cynthia stepped inside, but paused at the bottom of the stairwell. “Does reality have to smell so musty? I’d prefer something more pleasant.”

He smiled. “I agree, but the reality I referred to is we both have to work tomorrow, and that

sucks. I wish I’d been born rich instead of handsome.” He flashed a wink.

Did he know how attractive he was? His good looks had drawn the admiring stares of so many

women during their outing…and they all envied her, little ol’ Cynthia Freitas.

He followed as she climbed the stairs. She paused at the first landing and faced him. “Too bad

we can’t have everything we want, but I’d say today was a great ending to the weekend.” She smiled.

“Seriously, this was a great afternoon. I really enjoy looking in all the stores, although I can’t believe I didn’t find anything I wanted to buy. Maybe I should see a therapist.”

He shook his head and grinned. “Maybe, but push on, my dear. We have another flight to climb,

and dogs are barking.”

At her apartment, Alex took her key and unlocked the door. “I had a great time too. If it wasn’t

Sunday evening we could have made our time together last a little longer. Maybe we can do this again another time?”

Her excitement bubbled to the surface. “That would be wonderful. Hey, as a matter of fact, my

brother Kevin and his girlfriend, Sara, are coming to visit in a few weeks. They want me, of all people, to show them around the city. Would you be interested in joining us?”

She held her breath hoping he wouldn't decline. She'd like to show Kevin she did have some

confidence in herself. 

"I'd like that very much." He leaned down and brush his lips against hers.

Her heart skipped a beat then resumed its normal pace. She took a quick breath. "That was nice."

"Good. I was hoping I wouldn't offend you."

"No offense taken." And no defense either. Her knees turned to jelly. She opened her door, but

paused, hoping for maybe yet another, and longer, kiss.

Instead, he took her hand and held her knuckles to his lips. "Goodnight," he whispered, warming

her hand with his breath. He smiled and walked toward his apartment.

Cynthia went inside her place, closed the door and rested against it. She pondered the emotions

Alex stirred within her. She feared falling for him, too afraid of what might happen if he didn't

reciprocate the feelings. Could she handle rejection? She had no idea.

After making sure the door was locked, she went straight to the bedroom. Alex’s reminder about

the deadbolt flashed through her mind. She’d buy one tomorrow and ask him to install it. His offer of

help provided more opportunity to be with him, and she'd take him over the super any day.

*******************

This is where the excitement really begins.  You can get your copy at Books We Love, using my author's page and clicking the cover you like.  Please take advantage of the BOGO sale going on right now....buy one, get one free.  A great holiday special.

Now hop on over and visit my other Sunday Snippet Pals:

http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/ (Juliet Waldron)

http://triciamg.blogspot.com (Tricia McGill)


Don't forget to come back next week for more Sunday Snippets.

Friday Freebits with Ginger Simpson #frifreebits

Preface:  Cynthia has already become acquainted with her neighbor, a San Francisco Police Officer.  They've met on the way to the dumpster, and Alex is now helping her take out the trash.  As you can see...Cyn's mind is elsewhere at the moment:

Once in the alley, Cynthia flashed back to the building Superintendent and his suspicious behavior. She fought the urge to dig for the bundle he'd deposited, and almost laughed. Wouldn't dumpster diving make a great first impression on her handsome neighbor? 

Alex snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Can I have your other bag or have you become attached to it?" 

"I'm sorry," she said, handing it to him. "I guess I drifted off somewhere." 

Alex took hold of her elbow. "Garbage delivered, mission accomplished." 

She chuckled as they walked back into the building. "Next time I hope you take me some place that smells a little better." 

She noticed the slightly ajar first-floor apartment door as they ascended the stairs, but didn't mention it. For the first time since she'd arrived, she felt safe. 

You can pick up your copy via my Amazon page.

Welcome MaryAnn Kempher to Dishin' It Out

Tell us a little about MOCHA, MOONLIGHT, AND MURDER.

Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is Romantic Suspense. I tell people if you like Jane Austen and/or Agatha Christie, you’ll love this book. It has romance, and mystery, suspense, and comedy. The romance is very realistic, very friendship-based, and doesn’t come easy. Katherine and Scott were made to harass each other. Because at first they’re friends, and aren’t trying to get each other into bed, they’re not afraid to give each other a hard time, this makes for some very funny dialogue. Also, the waiting (to sleep together) ensures great sexual tension for them, and the reader. It also gives their romance a solid foundation.

Tell us a little about you.

I’m married with two great kids. I live near Tampa Florida. I spent my teen years living in Reno NV where this story is set.

How long did it take you long to write your book?

From start to finish, it took four years. But, I wasn’t always writing. Sometimes I’d take weeks, even months off. Also, during that timeframe—multiple drafts were created and discarded. Tons of revisions etc… I’m much more disciplined now, so the next book won’t take as long.

If your book were to be made into a move, who would you pick to play the main characters?

Off the top of my head I’d love Scott to be played by David Giuntoli, he’s the actor who plays Grimm. Very good looking, but approachable. I have an actress in mind for Katherine, but she’s too old for the part. A younger version of Elizabeth Shue would be great. No offense to Elizabeth, she’s still very beautiful, but Katherine is only 28.

Any advice for the new writers out there?

Yes. Whatever genre you want to write in, go buy books on how to write that genre. Also, buy books on how to write the beginning, middle, and end. People will rarely try to do something they have no experience doing without asking for, or looking for help. Why should writing a book be any different?

What are your thoughts on “write what you know”?

I think if you only write what you know, you won’t write many books.

Do you have a favourite character?

Shame on you. That’s like asking a parent to tell who their favourite child is. *smile*

Are you working on anything new?

Yes, I’m hoping to complete the first draft of my second book by the end of this summer. It’s working title is FOREVER DOOMED. It’s more a mystery than my first book, but a lot of familiar faces will reappear. So, if you have favourite characters, it’s very likely you’ll see them again in this upcoming book.

How about a little known fact about the author MaryAnn Kempher.

I’m proud to say I served 20 years in the Air Force. I was fortunate enough to travel to a lot of really great places including: California, Korea, South Carolina, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Florida.

You can find Mocha, Moonlight and Murder on Amazon and her website here.  Happy Reading, and thanks to MaryAnn for being our guest today.

Meet Shannon Wallace, of Avenging Angel

Hi. *Waving*

Kim Smith, my writer bud, asked me to hop over here to Miz Ging’s place and write a little something about myself.

HA!

She knows better than to do that. I am so bad at talking about what I look like, what I think like, and all that jazz, but whatever. Here goes nothing.

My name is Shannon Wallace. I live in South Lake Mississippi, where I have lived since I was ten years old and a tornado scooped down and whisked my mama and daddy to be with Jesus. I have two aunties, Tillie and Nancy, and they own and operate a small restaurant over near the old highway called TILLIE”S HOME COOKIN” It’s GOOOOOD!! Even though I am now edging near thirty, they still treat me as if I still live at home and need coddling. Lord love ‘em.

My best friend lately is Dwayne Brown. He and I went to college together and only recently did I have occasion to run into him again. Good thing too, because he has saved my butt. Several times. I mean, literally. *Sigh* Ask Kim Smith, the author of this whole tamale. She can explain what I mean about Dwayne putting himself in front of an oncoming train for me. Or you can read the book. It’s available over at Red Rose Publishing. Just look under Kim Smith (the big mouth).

I will be posting here at this blog for a few days to come. I hope you will check back and see what things I will do. *Maniacal laughter*

Finally, The anwer to women going to the bathroom in pairs!

My sister sent me this. I don't know the author, but I wish I did. She's hilarious and thinks along the same lines that I do. I wish I could take credit for it, but I can't.

When you have to visit a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women, so you smile politely and take your place. Once it's your turn, you check for feet under the stall doors. Every stall is occupied. Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall.

You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, the wait has been so long you are about to wet your pants! The dispenser for the modern "seat covers" (invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy but empty. You would hang your purse on the door hook, if there was one, but there isn't - so you carefully, but quickly drape it around your neck, (Mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the floor!), yank down your pants, and assume " The Stance." In this position your aging, toneless thigh muscles begin to shake. You'd love to sit down, but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold "The Stance."

To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, "Honey, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would have known there was no toilet paper!" Your thighs shake more.

You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your purse. (Oh yeah, the purse around your neck,that now, you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the same time). That would have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It's still smaller than your thumbnail.

Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work. The door hits your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet. "Occupied!" you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor, lose your footing altogether, and slide down directly onto the toilet seat. It is wet of course. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it 's too late.

Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper - not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try. You know that your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew, because, you're certain her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, "You just don't know what kind of diseases you could get."

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl that sprays a fine mist of water that covers your butt and runs down your legs and into your shoes. The flush somehow sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in too.

At this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet toilet seat. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks.

You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and dry paper towel and walk past the line of women still waiting. You are no longer able to smile politely to them. A kind soul at the very end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe. (Where was that when you needed it??) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it in the woman's hand and tell her warmly, "Here, you just might need this."

As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used, and left the men's restroom. Annoyed, he asks, "What took you so long, and why is your purse hanging around your neck?"

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with public restrooms (rest??? you've GOT to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked questions about why women go to the restroom in pairs. It's so the other gal can hold the door, hang onto your purse and hand you Kleenex under the door!

If the author is out there and wants credit, let me know! You deserve recognition for this adorable piece. :)