2. I've visited Bulgaria twice and found a country steeped in important history and fascinating culture.
3. I tried to be a vegan for four months and still avoid meat and diary if possible.
4. For me, Christmas planning begins in August.
5. I recycle receipts from cash registers to take notes on.
Bonnie McCune credits her tenacity for
the successes in her life, and A Saint Comes Stumbling In is
proof. Since fifth grade, she has been determined to be a
writer. This is her first published novel, but her
interest in writing led to her career in nonprofits doing public
and community relations and marketing. She’s worked for
libraries, directed a small arts organization and managed
Denver's beautification program. Simultaneously, she’s been a
free lance writer with publications in local, regional, and
specialty publications for news and features. Her main
interest now is fiction writing, and her pieces have won several
awards. Her civic involvement includes grass-roots
organizations, political campaigns, writers' and arts' groups,
and children's literacy.
For years, she entered recipe contests
and was a finalist once to the Pillsbury Cook Off. A
special love is live theater. Had she been nine inches
taller and thirty pounds lighter, she might have been an
actress. For reasons unknown (an unacknowledged
optimism?), she believes that one person can make a difference
in this world. McCune lives in Denver, Colorado, where
she’s been married to the same man forever, has two children and
three grandchildren, and is working on a humorous novel about
aging.
Falling Like a Rock
Unloved and unemployed. That’s Elaine Svoboda, after she’s sacked, then flees across country to her boyfriend who drops her flat. Teetering on the abyss of disaster, she calls an old friend who invites her to a tiny mountain town with fresh prospects. There she meets rugged, hunky Joe Richter-Leon, mayor of Falling Rock. Maybe he can help her find a job. Maybe they can become friends, even share romance. Sparks fly immediately, but major obstacles make a new life on the ashes of the old appear impossible. Joe’s consumed with challenges like the dismal local economy and an impetuous sister. Elaine butts heads with him at every turn in the rocky road. Is the problem her bungling attempts to help? Or does she remind him of a greedy, selfish ex-wife? Before they can build a new life on the ashes of the old, she must overcome a few obstacles like a broken ankle, an eating disturbance, his stubbornness, and her own fears. She’s smothering her hopes when a battle with a forest inferno illuminates their true feelings and desire. Funny and frank, poignant and perceptive, when two people are “Falling Like a Rock,” they learn surrender sometimes means victory.
Copyright
2014 © Bonnie McCune
The movement
now wasn’t rocking but more like a grind. A slowness. A shiver.
She knew she had to leave the main road and find help. She
swerved onto a pull-off that appeared as if by a miracle, turned
off the motor, and sank into the seat. In all directions she saw
flat monotone prairie. If spring was about to arrive, no sign of
it blossomed here. An occasional bush of greenish sagebrush
nodded, but most of the landscape consisted of earth-toned dirt
and dirt-toned pebbles scoured by a constant wind, which threw a
thin top layer of particles hither and yon.
What she knew
about auto mechanics fit on a matchbook cover. She’d been shown
where to fill up on gas and wiper fluid, and that was the extent
of it. She flicked the ignition off and on several times, peered
at the dashboard, even popped the hood. Nothing looked out of
place or broken.
She returned
to the driver’s seat to think and worry her tooth with her
tongue. It wasn’t safe to sit out here alone, and dismal
warnings from her parents to never trust a casual passerby in a
situation like this darted in her mind. So she hauled out her
cell phone. No service. She slumped in her seat.
The plains
spread horizon to horizon around her, and an appreciation rose
in her for the courage and hard work of the pioneers who had
traveled one slow step at a time over an endless landscape to
reach their new homes. At least nowadays an asphalt ribbon
transversed the plateau. On the road an occasional semi whooshed
past, rattling her vehicle as it traveled. One trucker slowed to
a crawl and honked, but by the time she decided he was offering
help, he’d disappeared.
She twisted
her brain in knots to find some way to save herself. Surely if
she were careful, stayed in her car and blinked her lights and
beeped, someone should rescue her. Perhaps she should wait until
a woman stopped, but another female would be as afraid to pull
over as she to chance an encounter.
Clouds began
to build in gray billows, flowed from west en route the east,
and the sun plunged toward twilight. If anything terrified her
more than an appeal to a stranger for assistance, it was
spending the night out here in the open. In her rearview mirror,
a battered Land Rover appeared, and almost on impulse, Elaine
switched on her hazard lights and leaned on the horn.
The vehicle
slowed but didn’t stop. Not until it was some yards down the
road. Next a tall, lean figure climbed out, the engine still in
operation. A man dressed in jeans, ski jacket, and a black
Stetson. Elaine would have laughed if she hadn’t been worried
about the security of the car door locks. She was in the West
now. It made sense for a cowboy to show up.
He approached
with careful deliberation, halting a few feet from her, and she
rolled her window down several inches and studied him in case
she had to describe him later to the authorities. Not
particularly suave or polished, but certainly with the rugged
strength typically associated with cowboy types. Dark, as if he
spent time outside or had some Mediterranean or Latino
ancestors. A prominent nose, off-centered, perhaps from being
bashed once too often.
“Need help,
ma’am?”
Wow- who knew?? I love the receipt idea, adopting it immediately!
ReplyDeleteCareful. Some kinds have Chemical BPA on them, and some people avoid re-using them.
DeleteI love the receipt idea too. And I'm like you, I try to get some of my Christmas shopping done throughout the year.
ReplyDeleteSee my reply to Carlene!
DeleteInteresting. I like the receipt idea and I, too, shop early. In fact doing a little of it this morning. I love your books, Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteBack at you, Victoria! Hope the bargains were good.
DeleteI love the planning Christmas begins in August one. I normally do that too. Not this year though.
ReplyDeleteInternet has helped cut down the amount of time for me.
DeleteI tried Christmas shopping early once and forgot where I hid the gifts.
ReplyDeleteI've done that, too. Also my sis forgot I'd given her presents for her grandkids and found them two years later!
DeleteLovely to read more about you Bonnie. I too am a veggie with a love of all cupcakes and cookies to make up the shortfall!
ReplyDelete