Serials and Scenarios ~ Grab a Chance

There are two contests going on for Out of the Frying Pan. Yes. That Frying Pan where 59 people have given us 4.3 out of 5 stars and folks are beginning to clamor for another adventure. 

Michelle answers questions here. Two of her answers surprised me. I had no idea. But the most exciting part is the copy of the book she's giving away! Woot! Woot!

And even more exciting. (Because it's my idea and it's new.) A chance to help us create a character for the second series of adventures for Fern and Zula. Yes. That's right. You could provide a friendly port in the storm for the gals or someone to whip things into a further frenzy here http://bit.ly/2uAqsYw.

Serials and Scenarios ~ Latest Reviews

I know. I took a break from blogging last week. Not on purpose, just that I didn't have much to share. My job required some training and my brain is spinning with new to-dos and future duty details and the unknown of exactly what my job is at the moment. Two locations or three? Multiple hats. And no control. Yes. Is it any wonder I couldn't come up with anything to share? 

But after signing onto Amazon I found three reviews that made me smile. So I'm sharing them. Nothing like someone getting us to add a happy sigh to my day. And equally exciting was my Saturday. I cleaned, and I filled a couple of bags with stuff that's outta here and mended/hemmed a pile of clothes that have been bugging me including scrub pants that I have to wear everyday and no longer have to roll up.  Happy sigh. I hope your weekend was as great as mine! 

5.0 out of 5 starsDelightful, Absolutely Delightful

Byjubilee readson June 23, 2017

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

There are so many things to like about this story: memorable characters getting into crazy situations, humor that makes you giggle out loud, plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing and a touch of romance. Good, clean fun wrapped up in a setting that is unique. I love the way Zula's wobbly high heels were always clipping on the concrete and her interest in fake foliage never flagged. Fern was a no nonsense delight with her practical streak gentled by her tender feelings for Philippe and her utter impatience with Fifi was a crack up. These two ladies aren't letting advanced age keep them from solving the biggest mystery to hit their retirement community yet!
I am a Zu-Fer fan, for sure.

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5.0 out of 5 starsZany and Funny

Bypautoyoungon June 15, 2017

Format: Paperback

Out of the Frying Pan by Michelle Griep & Kelly Klepfer is a delightful book centered around a retirement community in Florida. I could see myself as a combination of a couple of the character and at times, laughed out loud at their conversation or antics and would have to explain myself to my husband. The two main characters, Fern and Zula Hopkins, are sisters-in-law living together and are as different as night and day. Fern, the more serious, seems to be a grouchy bear while Zula, the frilly one, dotes on her puppy and beautifying the world with her attire, makeup, and artificial flowers. Fern and Zula do have one thing in common, both are snoopers. When they run across the dead cook of the retirement village who has been murdered, the perfect opportunity for snooping arrives. Good looking Detective Jared Flynn arrives on the scene, and the ladies also develop a plot to connect him with their niece, KC. Unbeknown to them, Jared and KC have already met thru a dating website. The book twists and turns thru the adventures of the two elderly ladies thru a world of drugs, murder, and romance. If you want to read an enjoyable book where the characters are zany and funny, you will want to buy this novel. The characters and plot will not disappoint you. I received a copy from the author and publisher of The Book Club Network in exchange for an honest review.

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4.0 out of 5 starsEntertaining

Bycnqrkdscncron June 1, 2017

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

This is a clean, entertaining mystery with a lot of quirky characters. The main characters you will meet are KC and her two hysterical aunts who try to help Detective Flynn solve a murder.
I loved this book and would read more from this author.

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Serials and Scenarios ~ Last Few Days

Fern and Zula are holding a contest. Just a reminder. Or a last call for any of you who might be on the fence! Here's the link with all the details. http://fernandzula.blogspot.com/2017/06/times-ticking.html

Three winners in all. Now we have more than enough entries. But we want all of you who might want the amazing prizes to have a chance. The prizes? Glad you asked! A Hobby Lobby gift card. A Trader Joe's gift card. And an Amazon gift card/copy of the book. 

All you have to do is snap a picture of a bouquet and tag us on social media. Now. If you don't have social media just send me the picture via email and I'll put it on social media. Easy peasy...kind of. Zula might have trouble with sending a jpeg from her phone. Errr Fern's phone. Especially since she had issues with dialing 911 with those fingernails when she stumbled onto Leonard's body. Or was it Fifi who stumbled over Leonard's body. Anyhoo. You get the gist. 

My email. See how easy I'm making this is. kelly.klepfer@gmail.com. 

Maybe you're wondering if you even want to read the book. Here's the link should you want to check it out! http://amzn.to/2ndM0qv

Serials and Scenarios ~ Fern and Zula Snuck Out Again

Sweet Carrie invited me to hang out at her blog after reviewing Out of the Frying Pan. 

Fern and Zula sat in the hot seats and answered her fun questions. And Carrie upped the laughs by commenting on the ladies' answers.  

Get in on the fun HERE

And Carrie includes the link to the contest...remember the contest???? 

Serials and Scenarios ~ I'm Sure You are All Wondering

You can be honest. All of you who know Zula, one of our characters from Out of the Frying Pan, know Zula has a bit of flare. 

She shares some of her top Diva tips with Ane Mulligan's readers. http://blog.anemulligan.com/flash-your-flare-diva-darling/  I'm sure you will find something of value in Zula's quick fix fashion, food and fluff suggestions. 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Celebrating FLOWERS. Giveaway

Fern and Zula, our characters from our Out of the Frying Pan are sponsoring a contest. 


Now...this is the easiest contest you might ever enter. Simply a photo of a or some floral arrangements with a wee bit of tagging and sending said picture and you are entered into three possible categories. Fern pick, Zula pick and Wild Card. 

The prizes? 

Hobby Lobby gift card
Trader Joe's gift card
Amazon gift card and a signed copy of our book. 


Official details here. 

Two entries so far. You should add to it!  

Serials and Scenarios ~ Feedback Part 2

Get a copy here http://amzn.to/2ndM0qv

A follow-up to yesterday. Read it here. http://bit.ly/2q4y1BK  

An author should never enter a debate regarding a review. It's just a bad idea. However. A comment made by a reviewer made me pause a bit. Her review was great and I appreciate it. But her experience is very different than mine. So I am using this next couple paragraphs to give more information about some reasons why our characters are written the way they are. 

A 78 year-old-reviewer said she didn't know anyone who acted like the ladies of Paradise. I am glad for her that she doesn't know the following story. But I have observed a whole different group of folks. Note: Some of the elderly or older church ladies I've known would not fit in with Fern and Zula. However, as with every age, there are extremes on both sides. And a wide road of gray in the middle (pun intended though I prefer to call my gray silver!) The town I live in has a very high population of over 65. We are ranked as one of the best cities for a healthy retirement. So. I have a little bit of knowledge with the over 65 crowd. 

Beaches and a cruise ship are great places to people watch. What I have observed in those locations is that those who are shy and inhibited are that way at any age. I've seen older women buttoned up in seven layers and I've seen others in the exact age group out and about in yoga pants and crop tops. Or doing the back stroke, in a tiny swimsuit in one of the cruise ship swimming pools. I know a 90+ year-old diva-doll who dresses to the nines and possibly gets most of her wardrobe from the junior department...and talk about spicy tongue and attitude.

So. When you are on a beach look around. I promise you will see at least one 65+ man in a speedo and one leather-skinned-sun-goddess in her bikini. Silver hair glistening in the sun. Neither one seems a bit concerned about showing skin. Right next to the 20-somethings in their thong bikinis.

True story.

One elderly lady shared her concern about her Peyton Place retirement village with me. Once, while delivering greeting cards to her neighbors she encountered a naked man. He left the room of a 70-something gal and trucked across the hall in all his glory. Right past her. Not a word. He may have winked but I'm pretty sure she had buried her head in the sand at that point. That religious holiday was ruined for the poor innocent gal.

In my experience here's the bottom line. If grandma was a tiger as a kitten, chances are she still has a purr.

Serials and Scenarios ~ Feedback

You know what feedback is...right? That horrific screechy sound that feels like nails on chalkboard. Feels like. Because it is so deeply painful. A sign that you are doing something that has attracted everyone's attention. 

Writing a book invites feedback. In this case feedback grabs attention and gives us details about what the tiny piece of the world we've touched thinks of our book. In the past couple of days I've gotten the following feedback. And what an interesting picture it is. 

		Jennifer Slattery May 9 at 11:08am
Working on some interview questions this morning, and in it, the interviewer asked what literary character I'd most love to have dinner with. Kelly, you knew who I said, right? The Ethel and Lucy of the 21st century! (I'd bring plastic flowers, of course! ;) ) #outofthefryingpan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z88w0hV074I Here's the link to her interview. Question 5 is our spotlight. http://newhorizonreviews.blogspot.com/2017/05/q-with-author-jennifer-slattery.html This on Facebook. That moment when you're in the checkout lane and the older woman in front of you is purchasing silk flowers in red, white and blue and it's all you can do to not start laughing out loud because all you can think about is Zula, from Out of the Frying Pan. Thank you very much, Jayshua Porterand Kelly Klepfer!!   I think it was national love on Out of the Frying Pan day. What did you do to celebrate? HaHaHa! Then this in the comments on Zu-fer (Fern and Zula's blog) I just love Fern! And a 3 Star review on Amazon. 3.0 out of 5 starsGood mystery Byrehabberon May 6, 2017 Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase I enjoyed the mystery, but it took me over a week to finish it, could have done without the senior citizens acting like hormonal teenagers. I am 78 and no one I know acts like that. ;)  Our "negative" reviews are even pretty positive. We got one 2 star and the reviewer called it fluffy and cute. Well. Sometimes fluffy and cute is just what the doctor ordered. But I'm going to suggest you come back tomorrow for a fictionalized story that is based on a true event. A flip side to what sees as a 78 year-old who has chosen those around her very, very well. Just sayin.....

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Silence

When kids are over and put away the toys but accidentally put away the dog toys, too. And your sister finds the only toy you want and takes it. First World Dog Problem. 

As I write this my house is literally silent. Well. There is ambient noise. It's an old house with 4 creatures in the same room, after all. 

This was not the case a mere hour ago. Instead it was filled with all the noise that a heaping 11 people, two dogs and two hedgehogs can make. (Hedgehogs are the least on the noise pollution scale, BTW.) 

A baby cooing, three little ones under three and three ten and under. Oh, and five adults coming and going for all various sorts of reasons. 

I can honestly say I might like the chaos a wee bit better. However, my body says the silence is lovely. 

Soaking up the silence. Ahhhhh....

Never mind. My daughter and husband are now debating the difference between butterscotch and caramel and it's intruding into my quiet bubble. Nice while it lasted. Ha Ha. 

If you are looking for more Fern and Zula check out the blog. There is a serial short story being put together one day at a time. http://fernandzula.blogspot.com/2017/04/stories-from-paradise-ferns-portrait.html  Twitter bite-sized pieces per day, so it's going to take a bit. 

Serials and Scenarios ~ People that Make People Look Good

I'm going to be honest. As members of the human race in the First World we tend to get pretty stinking selfish and self-focused. I don't need to wax eloquent about that amiright? We all know what I'm saying. 

When I run into people who think a whole lot bigger than how a traffic jam, slow barista or "#Unicorn Frappuccinos being gone so soon" wrecks their morning, day or life it's pretty refreshing. 

While doing my Out of the Frying Pan tour I've met some amazingly generous people. One of the latest and most generous is Greg from Abundant Life Coffee. My author group gives me a chance to invite people to review Out of the Frying Pan and do occasional shout outs to ask for help in promotion. As a reward I try to offer a monthly prize for those who have signed up. A simple drawing nets someone a book or a treat of some sort. One of the options is giving away a bag of Abundant Life Coffee. I thought I'd give them a try this month. When providing the winner's mailing address I also asked how to get the payment to them. He offered this one on the house. 

Paying it forward. A random act of kindness. 

Oh, and the mission behind the availability of the coffee? "Ending poverty, one cup at a time." 

Abundant Life is about the farmers in Honduras. Helping the former migrant workers to develop their own small coffee farms and paying them the highest prices possible to give them far and above the wages they are used to scraping by on. 

A couple years ago I read "Water from My Heart" a story within a story with a thread based on true conditions and about the people working to save a small Central American coffee farm. Since that time I have become more aware that an extra buck or two a bag can make a big difference to the people picking and working hard for my luxury item. I began leaning toward fair trade or organic. Just something to feel a little less selfish. Our church partnered with a mission group by selling coffee for a ministry that was helping in El Salvador and providing great coffee, too. There have been issues within the ministry so this has not been available lately. But here is Abundant Life Coffee. Great coffee with a life changing mission. How do I know it's great? Here's a review that sings some serious praises. 

I just have to share it with all my readers.  If you have Mother's Day gifts to buy for a coffee lover, please buy from someone like Abundant Life. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Carving

My oldest daughter and I don't have conversations anymore. Not that we aren't talking to each other but more like with 4-5 or 6 little ones running amok there are just zero complete conversations. We speak in snippets. 

Which makes me grateful for texts. If I haven't heard from one of my kids for days, this happens with my man-child. Which reminds me...I need to drop him a howareya text. I can get a temperature reading with a text. "How is so and so?" (So many. My grandchild count for Easter was 8. How did that happen? Older daughter mentioned that she's sorry she's such a breeder. Hilarious since her five are adopted or foster, so not true. However, she did make me an instagrandma of three and I'm so grateful for those little stinkers!) 

Texting and snippets of life conversation are a season of life. I have reached a point where I feel like not everything has to be talked about or shared. That it's okay to pick up where you left off. Kind of like what's going on in the world, if it's important you are going to hear about it. 

But sometimes relationships and sanity and passions require creativity.

Both of my daughters blog. So oldest daughter has asked me to carve out time weekly to meet with her at a coffee shop and tandem work on our writing. Last night was our second adventure. 

The amazing thing is that in the car rides back and forth and standing in line to order and getting things fired up we do get to have conversations. And then we write. I began to plot the second novel, the follow up to Out of the Frying Pan. And I finished a couple of important blog posts. 

I came home to a house I probably wouldn't have done much with had I stayed home. And besides, I had cleaned for an hour between work and writing, looking for a young man's glasses he was certain he'd left at grandma's house "probably in the toys." The toys are sorted and organized and every corner is swept clean and the glasses were not in the toys at grandma's. 

So. There's that.  

Serials and Scenarios ~ Where I Was...Am...Uhhhh. Where I Visited

So. I wrote up a bit at Novel Rocket. It's all about the basics. The really, really bottom line stuff one needs to write a book. If you are so inclined, head over and check it out. 


http://www.novelrocket.com/2017/04/nearly-everything-i-need-to-write-book.html

Book Giveaway Chance. And Who's the Inspiration

Hum Chicago's You're the Inspiration while reading the last part of the post title. 

http://amzn.to/2ndM0qv

Okay. Now go to Elaine Stock's blog to hear Michelle's take on how she fleshed out her characters. Including Wifi the Wonder Dog. 

You don't know Fifi? Well, then you might want to go to the link under the book cover, buy a copy and meet her. 

Finally. If you like easy throw together meals, especially Meatless Monday ones, go to Zu-Fer and give Zula's Minestrone a try.