13 Monday Jun 2016
Posted in The Lost Diary of Jane Doe
Tags
Adventure, Author, Beach, California, Children, Excerpt, Family, Hate, Humboldt County, Innocence, Jane Doe, Love, Poem, Relationships, Travel, Vacation, Violence, Writer
THE LOST DIARY OF JANE DOE:
Youth is symmetrical to innocence.
Therefore, hate is a simile of violence.
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright September 12, 1995
01 Wednesday Jun 2016
Posted in Excerpt from Manuscript - SNOW
Tags
Addiction, Authors, Betrayal, Black, Blogging, Books, Boyfriends, Break-ups, Broken, Cocaine, Denial, Drugs, Love, Novel, Relationships, Travel, Writers
Excerpt from Manuscript – Snow
The girl who was wearing all black was staring at her. She didn’t want to look over at her, but she could feel the heaviness of her glare boring down on her. She sensed the girl was trying to get her attention, but January was lost in between the lyrics of the band screaming from the radio and the shouting she heard in the other room.
She decided to look her way, “Do you know when they will be out of the bedroom?”
“Who knows. They made a big score tonight…could be a while.”
“A score?” January didn’t know what this girl was talking about.
“Speed, of course.” The girl casually replied.
January was shocked. “Did you see Jack go into the room. He must have gone out for more beer.”
“Jack is the cute guy with longish, shoulder length hair and black eye-liner?”
“Yes, he’s my boyfriend, but he doesn’t use drugs, so I’m sure he must have slipped out when I didn’t notice.”
“No, he’s in there. I saw him and the tall, skinny guy go in together.”
The room started to spin…January wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or the loud music or the distaste of her dinner rising up and into her throat, but she felt as if she was going to be sick.
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright June 1, 2016
26 Thursday May 2016
Posted in Excerpt from Manuscript - SNOW
Tags
Addiction, Author, Books, cookies, Excerpt, January, Magazine, Manuscript, New York, Novel, Novella, Relationships, Seasons, snow, tea, Time, Travel, Winter, Writer
EXCERPT FROM SNOW
The days were slowing down, giving her a chance to ponder, as her mind wandered back to a happier time. Realizing she was alone, not just in the moment, but really alone.
She felt lost, wondering where everyone had gone.
She remembered the joyous days, as her girl’s laughter echoed through their home. She was teaching Bella how to bake Snickerdoodle cookies, they had been her favorite as a young girl and now they were Bella’s favorite too.
But now, as she slowly sipped on her peppermint tea, gently swirling the cream around in the cup, she had nobody to sit around with and laugh. Time was going faster, but had also seemed to stop.
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright May 26, 2016
11 Wednesday May 2016
Posted in Excerpt from Manuscript - SNOW
Tags
Addiction, Author, Authors, Blogging, Break-ups, Broken, California, Children, Cocaine, Couples, Dreams, Drugs, Faith, Family, Hope, Literary Agents, Loss, Love, Marijuana, Mothers, Photography, Publishers, Relationships, Travel, Women, Writers
Excerpt – SNOW
“I know you’re lying!”
January knew he only lied when he was using. She had lived with the cycle for long enough to see the subtle changes in his behavior. She used to laugh about it, saying he was two-faced, but in reality it wasn’t funny.
She had been living with this man’s ups and downs for nearly twenty-seven years.
“I’m not lying, baby.”
“I know you didn’t go to work today, Jack, your boss called.”
“What a prick. He has had it out for me since the first day I started.”
Jack always knew what to say. Nothing was ever his fault, it was always the other guy.
January had come to a point when she no longer fought, it was easier to just accept it. Her best friend had told her once, you made your bed, now lie in it. She guessed she had.
“Jack, what are we going to do. We need money for our mortgage.”
“Don’t worry baby, I will get you the money.”
“How? You just lost your job.” January cried.
“Don’t worry your pretty little head, I will take care of it and have your mortgage money to you by Friday.”
It was always Friday, but he could no longer keep his promises. His lies were starting to catch up with him, they were drowning him and her and their family. Poor Bella, she didn’t deserve any of this.
“Jack, I can’t take this anymore. You always get fired after two weeks, why is that?”
“I told you baby, he was a prick. I will find another job, didn’t I tell you not to worry?”
“Hi, Daddy, are we going to have to move again?” Bella had just walked into our conversation, holding her ice cream in her hand, as it melted, dripping down her arm.
It was always the same story, but nothing was getting better. She knew why he lost his job after two weeks, it wasn’t because of any other reason, but he was using again.
He had just gotten paid two days before and now he had changed, January saw it, his boss saw it, and now Bella saw it.
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright May 11, 2016
26 Tuesday Apr 2016
Posted in Excerpt from Manuscript - SNOW
Tags
Blogging, Break-ups, Guest Blogger, Huffington Post, Journalist, Love, Photography, Post, Print, Published, Relationships, Romance, Travel, Writers
Excerpt from SNOW
Jack was consumed with worry. He pondered over if he would be able to fulfill his promise to her, but he knew with all his heart that he intended to try his hardest to keep his word and honor to the only woman he had ever loved or would love…
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: PMW
Copyright April 2016
10 Sunday Apr 2016
Posted in Excerpt from Manuscript - SNOW
Tags
Agents, Art Galleries, Authors, Blogging, Books, Break-ups, Broken, California, Couples, Dreams, Faith, Hope, Loss, Love, Novels, Publishers, Relationships, Separation, Women, Writers
Excerpt from Manuscript – SNOW
“He’s right you know…I’ve never had a happy ending that lasted.”
“Come on Jan, it can’t be that bad.”
“Mimi, it is. I just feel so lost without Jack.” January said, biting down on her lip.
“I know you are sweetie. Have you visited him lately?”
“Not really. It’s so hard. He’s still really angry with me. I guess I deserve it.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You don’t deserve any of this.”
“I’m not so sure about that. It is my fault Jack isn’t here right now.”
“Jan, it is definitely not your fault. Jack made his own choices. You didn’t force his hand into getting back into meth nor did you make him get onto his motorcycle, when he was totally high.” Mimi said, nursing the rest of her wine.
“Mimi, now you’re not being fair. If I wouldn’t have pushed him so hard and driven him to be so damn perfect, in only my sense of course, none of this would have happened!”
“Jan, you need to let it go. It will only destroy you.”
“I know, but I can’t.”
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright April 2016
05 Tuesday Apr 2016
Posted in Authors of the Week
Tags
Agents, Books, Break-ups, Couples, Friendships, Love, Publsihed, Relationships, Writers
SNOW
“I told him I was damaged. We talked about this from the beginning. He promised to be patient, while I healed, but he lied. He lied just like everyone else lies to me. He gave up on me.”
“You miss him, Jan…”
“Miss him…I don’t think miss is the right word. Do I feel a sense of loss…sure, but it’s more like a loss of hope. The hope for happiness. The hope for another chance at love. The hope he was one of the good guys.”
“Was he one of the good guys…”
“I really thought he was, Mimi. Maybe I expect too much from people, maybe I push too hard, and hold on too tightly. But the saddest part is that I did think he was one of the good guys. The one that would be there for me when I was sad…to wipe away my tears…to stay by my side… Maybe that’s all an illusion…I don’t know anymore.”
“I know what you mean, Jan. I don’t have the best track record with guys either. But look at it this way, at least we have our friendship.” Mimi stated, pouring another glass of wine.
“Yes, at least we have that!”
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright April 2016
28 Sunday Feb 2016
Posted in Authors of the Week
Tags
Agents, Authors, Blogging, Books, Break-ups, Broken, California, Children, Faith, Families, Family, Hate, Hope, Literary Agents, Loss, Love, Mothers, Publishers, Relationships, Separation, Women, Writers
SNOW
I sit in a trance like state, remembering the flashbacks from my life. Remembering how I took life for granted. Remembering how I thought I had all the time in the world. Not knowing, that I did not.
Remembering that one day…it had such a significant hold on me and a tight hold on who I become later in life.
My mother…holding the shiny, silver shears in her hand. I remember thinking, “She does not appear sane.”
“Mommy, what’s the matter…” I asked.
“You have been a very bad girl, very bad indeed. Did you not know that I would find out.. did you not…I’m speaking to you, January…”
“Mommy, I do not know what you are talking about.” I whimpered.
“But you do. Yes you do, January.”
“But Mommy, I do not.”
A fast and sharp burn spread across my face. I had been hit.
Suddenly, I blacked out; not remembering what happened next…as I sat on the cold, expensive marble floor, gathering my golden curls into a pile on the floor.
Silently, I glanced up, seeing my reflection in the bathroom mirror… “I’m hideous!” I cried.
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright: February 28, 2016
24 Wednesday Feb 2016
Posted in Just a PERFECT Thought
Tags
Agents, Blogging, Books, Break-ups, Broken, California, Children, Divorce, Dreams, Faith, Families, Hate, Hope, Loss, Love, Mothers, Novels, Poems, Publishers, Relationships, Separation, Women, Writers
I Married a Psycho Series
“Bella are you packed…”
“Yes, Mama…Mama the phone is ringing.”
“Sweetie will you please grab it for me…I’m out on the porch.”
“Hello, Daddy. Why not… okay, I will go and get her.”
“Mama, it’s Daddy, he wants to talk to you.”
“Jack, when will you be home…Bella and I are ready and waiting for you. What do you mean you’re in Twin Pines…I thought you were at work and then coming home to pick us up…we are all supposed to go there together…as a mini vacation. Or did you forget!”
“Mama, don’t cry.”
“Hysterical…I’m not being hysterical. I can’t believe you went without us. How could you and what am I supposed to tell Bella, Jack!”
I looked over towards the doorway. All was silent now. My heart broke, as I watched my only daughter, as tears as big as crocodiles, spilled down her cheeks.
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright February 2016
24 Sunday Jan 2016
Posted in Photographs from Art Gallery
Tags
Animals, Art, Art Galleries, Authors, Blogging, Books, California, Dreams, Faith, Family, Love, National Geographic, News, Photography, Poems, Relationships, Sunset Magazine, Travel, Writers
Staying Active…
There are many creative ways to exercise. Do something fun…hiking is a great form of exercise…
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright: January 2016
Ask Ms Mandi 
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