I’m newly single after a 14-year relationship, 12 of which I
was married. After licking my wounds for a period of many months in my office,
during which time I completed two novels, I ventured out from my cocoon of
words, not quite like a butterfly but more a broken-winged sparrow after my
wing, though still fragile, had healed. I didn’t really want to go out there.
It’s scary out there. But it gave me pause when my mother, on my 44thbirthday, said she hoped I wouldn’t just give up on the possibility of love
after divorce like several of our close relatives did. Around the same time, my
best friend texted me, while I was working on a Saturday (my daughters were
with their dad) with these words: “You need to get out. You’re a cat away from
crazy writer cat lady.”
Okay. I got the point. But then, how? What does a middle-aged woman who works alone do to meet nice, available men?
The answer? Match.com.
Yes, you heard me.
So, I wrote my profile. That was the easy part. And I posted photos. Then I went in there and looked around. There were some nice men, on paper at least. I did a couple of winks (I know, but that’s what they call it).
Then the floodgates opened. I started receiving a lot of mail. For your enjoyment, I’ll share my sorting mechanism:
Automatic delete:
I’ve been on a few dates. It was hard: like auditioning when I was an actress hard; like sending my books out into the world to be judged hard. But I know I have to do it. One must be courageous in this world or life passes us by.
So I’m out there. And it’s a brave new world out there, ladies. I’m smack dab in the middle of it. Again. After all this time. Only now I have wrinkles around my eyes and breasts that fed two babies. Oh, and I have my two babies, 6 and 10, always my first priority and my job to keep safe. Throw in my trust issues, and, well, the chance of finding true love is pretty low. However, I’m a romance writer, which makes me a romantic yesterday, today and tomorrow. I believe in my happy ending, despite all the odds working against me.
Until then, of my journey, my publisher says, “At least it’s great fodder.” I always have that.
Okay. I got the point. But then, how? What does a middle-aged woman who works alone do to meet nice, available men?
The answer? Match.com.
Yes, you heard me.
So, I wrote my profile. That was the easy part. And I posted photos. Then I went in there and looked around. There were some nice men, on paper at least. I did a couple of winks (I know, but that’s what they call it).
Then the floodgates opened. I started receiving a lot of mail. For your enjoyment, I’ll share my sorting mechanism:
Automatic delete:
- Misspelled words. And yes, a lot is two words. And, there is a difference between they’re, their and there.
- Not bothering with punctuation conventions. I mean, I can forgive the comma thing (even those of us who write for a living get tripped up on the dreaded comma rules) but really, can’t bother with capital letters? I have to draw the line there.
- A mention of how much they love their truck in their profile.
- A long list of what they’re looking for as opposed to what they can offer.
- Their profile photo cut in half with a woman’s arm obviously placed around his neck. Old girlfriend? I think so. Dude, get someone to take a photo of you without your former girlfriend. Smart phones make it easy. Or is she former? One has to wonder.
- Mention of the fact that they, too, are a writer and currently looking for a publisher.
- 55 plus men looking for women ages 25-40.
I’ve been on a few dates. It was hard: like auditioning when I was an actress hard; like sending my books out into the world to be judged hard. But I know I have to do it. One must be courageous in this world or life passes us by.
So I’m out there. And it’s a brave new world out there, ladies. I’m smack dab in the middle of it. Again. After all this time. Only now I have wrinkles around my eyes and breasts that fed two babies. Oh, and I have my two babies, 6 and 10, always my first priority and my job to keep safe. Throw in my trust issues, and, well, the chance of finding true love is pretty low. However, I’m a romance writer, which makes me a romantic yesterday, today and tomorrow. I believe in my happy ending, despite all the odds working against me.
Until then, of my journey, my publisher says, “At least it’s great fodder.” I always have that.
Blurb:
Crushed by a
broken heart ten years ago, Cleo Tanner walked away from her acting
dreams and now leads a quiet, secluded life in Seattle. Sylvia, her best
friend from college, is trapped in a loveless marriage, distraught by
her inability to conceive a child - until an adoption agency owner in
relentless pursuit of Cleo offers to help.
Just as Sylvia begins to experience a profound love that only a mother can feel, a detective approaches Cleo with disturbing questions about the adoption agency. Determined to protect her friend, Cleo jumps into a dangerous investigation that forces her to confront the ghosts of her past.
Bestselling author Tess Thompson, whose debut novel Riversong touched the hearts of readers worldwide, delivers a captivating and suspenseful tale of the possibilities that await us in life and in love - if we can find the courage to get off the sidelines.
A toast to friendship, motherhood, mended hearts and new beginnings, Caramel and Magnolias reminds us it's never too late to reawaken the heart.
Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
ITunes
Kobo
Just as Sylvia begins to experience a profound love that only a mother can feel, a detective approaches Cleo with disturbing questions about the adoption agency. Determined to protect her friend, Cleo jumps into a dangerous investigation that forces her to confront the ghosts of her past.
Bestselling author Tess Thompson, whose debut novel Riversong touched the hearts of readers worldwide, delivers a captivating and suspenseful tale of the possibilities that await us in life and in love - if we can find the courage to get off the sidelines.
A toast to friendship, motherhood, mended hearts and new beginnings, Caramel and Magnolias reminds us it's never too late to reawaken the heart.
Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
ITunes
Kobo
Tess Thompson Contact Links
Prize Information:
Tess is offering one winner at each blog an eBook copy of Caramel and
Magnolias and a grand prize of print copies of both Caramel and
Magnolias and Riversong. Winners will be chosen from comments at each blog
after the tour is open and post the winner in the blog post. The
Rafflecopter below is for the grand prize. eBook prizes open to International but Grand Prize is US only.
Prize Rafflecopter
Tour Schedule:
4/11 Romance Book Craze / Rambling Reads / Twinsie Talk
Nice post.
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
I enjoyed reading the excerpt. But have not followed along.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
Our winner is Debby!
ReplyDeleteI will email you.
Thanks!