Chet The Dog

Posts Tagged ‘mothers day’

Beginnings (Not)

Normally on Sunday we do beginnings, taking a look at the start of  a Peter Abrahams novel including those written under the Spencer Quinn moniker™. But today is a special Sunday, so here’s this snippet from Heart of Barkness. Happy Mother’s Day!

“Did you play?” Bernie said.

Hernando nodded.

“How far did you get?”

“Generales de Durango.”

“That’s Triple A.”

“Yes,” said Hernando. “And you?”

“Nothing like that,” Bernie said. “Played a bit in college.”

What was that? Bernie’d been a star at West Point, would have gone pro except for blowing out his arm. On her last visit, the Thanksgiving with the wishbone incident, Bernie’s mom – if you ever run into her, be prepared – said, “Bernard” – which is what she, and only she, calls him – “when will you learn to toot your own horn?” On the way back from dropping her off from the airport, Bernie had leaned on the horn like crazy.

 

A Piece of Work

With Mother’s Day coming up, here’s a little mother-snippet from Tender Is The Bite, the next Chet and Bernie novel (July 6):

“What’s this?”

“For the croissant.”

“It’s too much.”

“Plus a tip.”

“You don’t tip the owner, Mr. Bernie.”

“That’s what my mother always said.”

“Is she still alive?”

“Oh, yes.”

“She must be proud of you.”

Bernie’s mom – a piece of work – was suddenly in the conversation? She lived in Florida but had visited us last Christmas, bringing her new husband. He wore a white leather belt and said that bad times were the best times for making money. Bernie’s mom had told Bernie to give that some thought. The subject of being proud of him hadn’t come up.

https://read.macmillan.com/promo/tenderisthebitepreorder

Happy Mother’s Day!

Normally on Sundays we do beginnings – taking a look at the start of a Peter Abrahams novel, including those written under the Spencer Quinn moniker. But today is Mother’s Day, so I’ll be remembering my own mother, who taught me most of what I know about writing by the time I was 12 or so. She died before I became a writer but that shouldn’t stop me from saying, Thanks, Mom. Especially for the tips on dialogue!

(Last day for the Heart of Barkness Mother’s Day special, by the way.)

Happy Mothers Day, Everybody!

Beginnings, which normally appears here on Sundays, will come tomorrow. Meanwhile here’s an apposite quote from DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE, featured on beginnings a few weeks ago:

Mom had the kind of love for her that you could feel, like it was part of the atmosphere.