Tag: friend

Posted in News, Thoughts

Remembering Adrienne

Posted on by Sherri

I have told this story before to sell books but my telling it now has another purpose, to honor a friend. Adrienne Dunning was a fantastic, funny and feisty woman who lived up to her hair color. She died in a tragic accident the morning of July 5th. We’d just started making plans to return to Murfreesboro for a second writers’ retreat.

It was nearly two years ago, my friend, Adrienne Dunning and I were going to a writers’ retreat in Murfreesboro. I had known Adrienne for several years through the Pamlico Writers’s Group and our work on the writers conference. We’d become closer as we worked more closely together on projects for the Pamlico Writers. Like me, Adrienne had a lot of ideas and together we were looking forward to making them happen. We were still getting to know each other on a personal level, but we liked and respected each other’s work and writing so had made plans to attend several events together or meet up at a couple. The first was our trip to Murfreesboro.

Adrienne drove, and she and I shared stories about ourselves on our trip. I’d left my husband home with no electricity after a hurricane. He had told me to go, no need for me to cancel my plans since everything else was okay. Adrienne pointed out familiar places as she’d grown up in the area. She took me on a quick driving tour of the college and down town before bringing me up to the renovated house where I’d be staying. Adrienne would stay with her parents since they lived nearby and come in for the meals and meetings.

The event’s coordinator and owner of the house, Ruth Akright, had serval authors and a illustrator who would come in to do presentations. While I truly enjoyed the events and meeting the other authors, it was our impromptu discussions about writing that made the weekend the most memorable for me.

I was struggling to write my fourth book feeling frustrated that I just couldn’t get it right. I wanted a true romance without all the murder and explosions. Adrienne pointed out that I was struggling because I was trying to force the story. That instead of trying to make it be a romance, just write it. And if I had to blow things up or murder a few people, well just go with it. I’d already written three romantic suspense stories, evidently that’s what I enjoyed writing.

Being true to yourself… true to your passions. Adrienne loved romance and Scotland, combining the two and finally checking Scotland off her bucket list was what she dreamed of! She enjoyed sharing her books with her readers but helping other writers was another passion.

I will miss Adrienne as a friend, fellow writer and her dedication to the Pamlico Writers’ Group. To her parents, family and friends I add my condolences. To her readers and fans her light was extinguished too soon. To those of us who were just getting to know the wonderful, talented woman, the loss is greater for the regrets, we believed we had more time.

Posted in Uncategorized

Happy Birthday Brenda Mayo Jones

Posted on by Sherri
From Red Steel

Billy sipping his warm beer, watched his sister and her new husband as they twirled around dance floor amid the other glittering couples. He didn’t begrudge Rae her happiness. It was a long time in coming. But he couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholy. He sighed as he watched them, the three friends, couples now, best friends since middle school. They’d always had Rae’s back, even when he’d failed her. He turned away from the scene, refusing to allow the depressing thoughts to seep inside him. He’d been feeling this way since his mother’s death. First the anger, then the guilt, now this whatever it was. He sighed.

“Happy New Year’s AC,” one of the paramedics greeted him.

Billy grinned. AC for assistant chief had become his acronym. He had to admit, he liked it. It was an honor to be elected to the position. The fire department and rescue squad felt more like his family than some of his blood kin. “Hey Blade,” he greeted the tall blonde.

Brenda, aka Blade rolled her eyes. “Y’all ain’t gonna let me live that one down, are you?” She’d proved herself handy with a knife. Saving one of his guys at a fire her first week on the job. It had earned her the nickname Blade.

He raised his bottle to her. “You could have a worse nick name.”

She cringed aware of some of the other monikers that had been bestowed upon the rookies of both teams. “You here alone?”

“Yeah, looks like.” He grimaced. Lifting his shoulders in a careless shrug, he blushed. “I got stood up.” He was known in town and especially among the first responders as a bit of a ladies’ man. It kinda dented his image to be to a big function like this dateless.

She frowned, crossing her long muscular arm under her impressive chest. “What’d you do?”

Momentarily distracted by her display, Billy mentally shook himself. He didn’t date other members of the team. Besides, Blade was married, and he’d learned his lesson about messing with married folks. But she was a good-looking woman with a great rack, focus Grimes, the lady asked you a question. “Now what makes you think I did anything?” Billy complained.

“You’re a guy.” Realizing her arms were crossed under her breasts, and his eyes had once more strayed there, she dropped them, blushing. “Really AC?”

He shrugged, grinning. “What? You said it, I’m a guy. They’re nice. I’m gonna look.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re an ass.”

“Yes ma’am, but I’m honest and you really do look nice tonight. Where’s Chris?” She did look pretty in her royal blue gown with all the sparkly things on it.

“My husband had to work tonight,” she said and sighed. “Do you wanna dance? I hate just standing around.”

“You don’t think he’d get jealous?” Billy asked setting his beer down on a nearby table.

She grinned. “Of you, nah?”

Her sharp wit was one of the reasons he liked Blade, Brenda, she was tough but still sweet. “I think I should be offended by that,” he drawled.

“Probably,” she replied nodding, her blue eyes twinkling.

Posted in event

Happy Birthday Marni “M K” Graff

Posted on by Sherri
with my mentor Marni Graff 2019 PWC

Happy birthday to this dear lady who is not just a friend but my mentor, too. When I first met Marni, she was hosting the Writer’s Read at a bakery in Washington. Her open heart and gentle manner made trusting her with my rough, less than eloquent prose, easier. I have often described sharing my writing as being like standing in a Walmart parking lot, naked, yelling look at me, look at me. Marni took some of the fear out of exposing myself to scrutiny.

Marni is an award winning cozy mystery author with two series. Her first series, the Nora Tierney British Cozy Mystery series set in England was her dream. She always wanted to write a series set in England and worked hard to make her dream come true.

Marni’s first novel

Marni is now finishing the fifth in her Nora Tierney series and has recently published the second of her Trudy Genova Manhattan Mysteries.

The second Trudy Genovia Manhattan Mystery Series

Marni has helped many people on the path to getting published. She isn’t just an award-winning author, she is an award-winning person.

So on this special day I’d like to take a moment to say thank you and happy birthday to this very special lady.

Posted in inspiration, Thoughts

Some gave all

Posted on by Sherri

US Armed Forces AnthemAs we celebrate this holiday, let us not forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Memorial’s day is a chance to remember those who gave their lives for all we hold dear. It is a time of remembrance but it is also a time of celebration. We are free because they answered the call and served this country.

As an arm-chair historian I have read of the many sacrifices our forefathers gave to create this great country. Many lost homes, fortunes, family, friends, and many lost their lives. Freedom isn’t free. We owe so much to those who fought the battles for our freedom. Who risked everything to sustain our way of life and create a country that offers so many opportunities and gives its people so many privileges.

I never served in the military, nor protected my community or loved ones from fire or danger, but I am proud to be the daughter, daughter-in-law and mother of those who answered the call. To my father, now deceased, who served during Vietnam in the Air Force, to my father-in-law who served fourteen years in the Marine Corp with four tours to Vietnam, to my son who served ten years in the Army with two tours to Korea and two in Afghanistan, to my son who is a first-responder and another who is a volunteer fireman and first-responder, thank you for your service. To my cousins and uncles and my grandfather who served in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, and Merchant Marines, thank you for doing your duty for your country and your family.

To those whose loved ones did not return, God bless you and thank you for your sacrifice. To all of us who stand in honor of those who offered their lives for this country, I salute you. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (US Armed Forces AnthemJohn 15:13 New International Version)

Happy Memorial’s Day.

Posted in event

Friend and Mentor

Posted on by Sherri

I just had my second book signing and my first experience co-signing with my friend and mentor, Marni Graff. I was surprised at the ease in which we were able to blend our thoughts and ideas, and talk about our books. It felt natural, sharing the stage with Marni. We’ve discussed books so often that in many ways, it just felt like a discussion among friends. Of course, the lack of nerves on my part may have been from the amount of cold medicine I’ve been taking.

I first met Marni Graff when she was hosting open mic events at a bakery in Washington, North Carolina. She called it Writers’ Read and several writers and poets would come and share their work. I was attracted by her unflappable style and grace. I followed Marni to Belhaven, when she moved the Writers’ Read to the public library after the bakery closed. When she became a presenter at the first Pamlico Writers’ conference, I knew I had to attend. I’ve attended every writers’ conference since.

Over the past few years Marni and I have become close, first as student and mentor, and later as friends, and writer-sisters. I have learned so much from Marni, she is a patient teacher, mentor and friend. She has pushed me to stretch my talent to judge a competition, review others’ works and even submit my own work to agents and contests. It because of her faith that my story was ready that I leaped into the publishing fire and self-published Chrome Pink.

I resisted self-publishing for years because I wanted the dream, to have an agent or editor believe in me and take on my project. After having the experience of an agent, I learned that by going the traditional route, you give up a lot of control. When my agent broke up with me, I began to embrace the idea of having complete control. It’s frightening and a little intimidating but with the push from Marni, friends and family, I finally did it.

Sitting at the table, discussing our books and fielding questions from the audience is a dream I never allowed myself to have. Having the book signing with my friend and mentor, is a priceless gift I will treasure for a life time. I appreciate my library manager Robina Norman for setting this up with her colleague, Sallie, and to Sallie for making this book signing a lovely event, thank you.

Book signing at Robersonville Public Library, March 7th, 2018.