Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Guest Author: Molly O'Keefe

I met today's guest for the first time down at this year's RWA conference in Orlando. She's a sweetheart and a fellow Superromance author with a new series out in August, September and October, the Notorius O'Neills. (Love the titles!) She won a RITA in Orlando for Best Romance Novella for The Christmas Eve Promise. YAY!

Please welcome Molly O'Keefe.


Feeling My Age

Truth be known, most days, I feel like I'm nineteen. I have no idea where these extra pounds came from, or why my boyfriend keeps calling me 'wife'. And who the heck are these kids? Am I babysitting? Why won't they go home? I don't know if it's because I get to go to the playground most days, or if when I'm not with my kids I'm making stuff up in my head - but there you have it - I still kind of feel like a teenager.

Adulthood seems like something that happened to my parents - and maybe it's because I'm lucky enough to still have both my parents alive and in tremendous health, that I still feel like a kid. I don't have to solve all my problems myself as long as my mom is only a phone call away. And maybe I'm not really sure what adulthood means - I pay a mortgage - is that adulthood?

My best friend in the world I met thirty years ago in Kindergarten. We both have two kids, full lives, totally adult type stuff going on, but maybe because she's still in my life those memories of growing up, smoking cigarettes at Kids Ground, waking up early for speech meets, long summer days lifeguarding at the pool - they are within touching distance. Smelling distance even, give me a whiff of chlorine and Banana Boat sunscreen and I'm fifteen.

However, this month is conspiring against me. Two HUGELY adult things are happening. My baby. My little boy, sweet Mick is going to Kindergarten. Part of me has a party hat on and an icy cold margarita in hand ready to celebrate a few hours of my life back. But the other part of me...? Oh. Oh no. How did he get so old? Wasn't I rocking him, bathing him, counting his eyelashes while he slept, just a minute ago? Wait a second...how did I get so old? I'm a lifeguard, damn it!

And second, I'm getting a mammogram. My first. Part of me thinks I'm rushing things, it's too soon, right? To worry so much about this? But then I look at that boy getting ready for Kindergarten and I know, this is the right time. There is no too early when it comes to detecting breast cancer.

So, I'm older this month. Not just in minutes and days, but I feel like my soul is getting a little grey around the temples.

How about you? How old do you feel? What makes you feel like an adult, or better yet, a kid?

Molly

Here's a little bit about Molly's new Superromance series:

Inspired by Paul Newman and pralines, The Notorious O'Neill series takes place in Bonne Terre, a fictional town in Louisana. Savannah, Tyler and Carter are siblings who were left on thier grandmother's doorstep twenty years ago by their con artist mother. Each of the children has spent the last twenty years battling, or in Tyler's case embracing, the notorious reputation attached to the O'Neill name.

The siblings are in danger of falling out of touch with each other - pulled in separate directions by their fears and lifestyles - when the fall out of a seven year old jewel theft shatters all of their lives.

For Savannah, the baby of the family, it's a matter of learning to trust again, only the man she chooses to trust ends up breaking her heart. Tyler has to go home to Bonne Terre to face down his father, his demons, and Juliette Tremblant - the girl he loved and left years ago. Carter, as a Baton Rouge politician has been trying to keep his own skeletons in the closet - but when a beautiful stranger publically claims Carter got her pregnant his life and lies begin to unravel.

Throw in a devious grandma with a tarnished past, a couple of stolen gems and a family home with plenty of secrets - and you have the Notorious O'Neill series.

25 comments:

Molly O'Keefe said...

Thanks for having me ladies! I'd love to give away two copies of either The Temptation of Savannah O'Neill, or Tyler O'Neill's Redemption to commentors!

krisgils33 said...

Some days I feel like I'm 90, other days not so much. Congrats on the new book release.

Kathleen Eagle said...

Welcome, Molly!

Okay, sweetie, just wait until your youngest grandchild is starting first grade and you still feel like (well, some days)You haven't gotten any older, but everyone around you has. (If you want to keep this illusion going, it helps to stay away from mirrors.)

You and I must be walking parallel paths this month. I have a mammogram coming up next week. Not my first, of course.

While we're on that subject, scroll down on the blog and click the free mammo link!

Big congrats on the new book, Molly. Love that cover!

Helen Brenna said...

Hi Molly and welcome!

Old? Who's old? Not me. :) That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Thanks for hanging with us today, Molly!

Molly O'Keefe said...

Krisgills33 - Sadly, I know that feeling all too well today. I fell asleep with my daughter last night in her little single bed and woke up with the worst sore neck. I feel ninty!! Thansk for stopping by!

Molly O'Keefe said...

Oh Kathleen - I'm way ahead of you with the mirrors. It's such a pleasure to "meet" you - I've enjoyed your books for years!

Molly O'Keefe said...

Helen - I can safely say whatever your age might be there is no way you look like a woman with kids in high school and college!!

Cindy Gerard said...

Hey Molly
Huge congrats on the release AND the RITA win!! And welcome to the vert.

Feeling old. Don't get me started. :o) Suffice it to say that for me these days, it's all about feeling 'relevant' because old is here to stay :o0 Anyway, some days it feels that way.

Michele Hauf said...

Welcome, Molly! You're speaking directly to me today. How many times have I looked in the mirror and not recognized that face and body on the teenage brain I still use? I hope to never grow old inside. Fingers crossed I can stave off what happens on the outside as long as possible!

Debra Dixon said...

What a lovely public service announcement.

You will send countless readers to the phone to make their appointments.

I'm happy to report that I'm a big believer in screening. My mammogram in June required a callback and I'll have to go again in January...just to be absolutely sure.

And it's not my first call back. I actually had multiple call backs on my first ever mammogram which established a baseline a long time ago.

My mammo file record is long and distinguished. (g)

So thanks for reminding folks that time slips by so quickly for everything, not just when watching our precious little ones grow like weeds.

Hope you put those newly freed hours to good use!

Cecilia Grant said...

Tell me about it! My eldest is a high-school senior, so this morning was her last first day of school :(

And I have to say how much I enjoyed The Temptation of Savannah O'Neill. Matt's first impression of Savannah made me spit coffee:

She was, however, painfully sexy in a long straight gray skirt and a white shirt that couldn't quite diminish the curves she clearly was trying to hide. The whole look gave her the appearance of a prison warden on lockdown.

In a porno.


Hee!

Molly O'Keefe said...

Cindy - I feel like what is relevant is a total mystery. I feel the opposite of relevant most days.

Molly O'Keefe said...

Michele - I feel like writing helps with keeping my brain young. Even when I'm staring into space trying to remember some basic word - I feel like I'm flexing that muscle a lot.

Molly O'Keefe said...

Debra - fingers crossed Jan is good news. Those call backs are stressful.

Molly O'Keefe said...

Cecila! You are one of the most supportive people I've ever met - honestly. I truly look forward to returning the favor!

I quite liked the way Matt thought of Savannah - the way it changed throughout the book was touching. Matt is one of my favorite heroes.

Maureen McGowan said...

Most days I still feel like a teenager, too... And let's face it, Molly, I was already a teenager when you were born. (Or close to it.)

The responsibilities of home ownership are what makes me feel old. Too old some days.

Helen Brenna said...

What a cute excerpt, Cecilia! And fun this is a favorite here, Molly. This book is part of a series, right? The O'Neills? Are they brothers?

Deb, my first mam required several callbacks, too. I get the whole establishing that baseline thing, but it was still worrisome.

KylieBrant said...

Welcome to the convertible, Molly! As far as feeling old, I feel my age every time I try to keep up with the twenty somethings on the weekend :)

Keri Ford said...

oh! I feel like a teenager most times too!


and then I see a picture of myself. Uh, yeah. those are my clothes. that's my hair. who's that chick wearing them with chubby pinchable cheeks and 20lbs heavier? what happened to my toned arms??

Molly O'Keefe said...

Helen - here's a little bit about the series:
Inspired by Paul Newman and pralines, The Notorious O'Neill series takes place in Bonne Terre, a fictional town in Louisana. Savannah, Tyler and Carter are siblings who were left on thier grandmother's doorstep twenty years ago by thier con artist mother. Each of the children has spent the last twenty years battling, or in Tyler's case embracing, the notorious reputation attatched to the O'Neill name. The siblings are in danger of falling out of touch with each other - pulled in seperate directions by thier fears and lifestyles - when the fall out of a seven year old jewel theft shatters all of thier lives. For Savannah, the baby of the family, it's a matter of learning to trust again, only the man she chooses to trust ends up breaking her heart. Tyler has to go home to Bonne Terre to face down his father, his demons, and Juliette Tremblant - the girl he loved and left years ago. Carter, as a Baton Rouge politician has been trying to keep his own skeletons in the closet - but when a beautiful stranger publically claims Carter got her pregnant his life and lies begin to unravel.

Throw in a devious grandma with a tarnished past, a couple of stolen gems and a family home with plenty of secrets - and you have the Notorious O'Neill series.

Molly O'Keefe said...

Kylie - I have extreme cover envy - honestly your Deadly Intent cover is AMAZING!

Molly O'Keefe said...

Oh Keri - it's not just those toned arms I miss - not that mine were ever toned...but did they always have this chicken skin?

Helen Brenna said...

I'm putting your series summary in the text of the blog - so cool!

Laurie G said...

Oh Molly your O'Neill series sounds great.

WOW! scandal,theft,trust and love! I'd love to find out what happens to Savannah, Tyler and Carter.

Mentally I don't feel my age but unfortunately wrinkles, crowsfeet and varicose veins don't lie.

I like to keep active. Biking always makes me feel younger!

Molly O'Keefe said...

Krisgils and Laurie - you are my winners! Please drop me a line at molly AT molly - okeefe DOT com and give me your snail mail addresses and I will send a free book your way!!