Ask the Author: Rhonda Hopkins
Answered Questions (6)
Rhonda Hopkins
You don't know me. But, I love watching you sleep.
Rhonda Hopkins
I'm currently writing the first book, A Witchy Surprise, in a new young adult paranormal cozy mystery series, Witches of Whispering Pines.
Excerpt:
Cackling, laughter, and high-pitched squealing came from our backyard as I stepped outside just in time to snatch Babette, our miniature pig, out of the air.
“What the heck is going on?” I cuddled Babette to me, her squeals slowly ratcheting down as she pushed her warm velvety snout into my neck. I hugged her closer and she quieted.
Even at ten o’clock in the morning, the scorching Texas heat had me sweltering in seconds. Backing up, I opened the screen door and sat Babette gently inside before turning to face the dastardly duo in the yard. My cousin Danu was bent at the waist, hands on her knees, laughing so hard she had tears streaming down her face. My great-grandmother, who was definitely old enough to know better, cackled the laugh of the wicked witch she sometimes was.
“What in heaven’s name do you two think you’re doing? You’ve probably traumatized Babette for life.” Folding my arms across my chest I stood looking at them, my bare foot tapping against the wooden beams of the porch.
“Oh, don’t be a spoilsport, Charley.” Grandma Ruby huffed and rolled her eyes. She sometimes acted like a twelve-year-old rather than someone in her seventies.
It’s not every day you see a pig flying by. Not even in Whispering Pines. As shocking as that was I was still surprised it took so long to finally notice Grandma Ruby’s attire and my eyes nearly bugged out of my head. She wore her signature ruby red, of course. Only today, the color spanned a pair of shorts. Short shorts. I mean, really reeaallly short. A black halter-top adorned with red ladybugs and black combat boots finished off the outfit. Pasty white wrinkled skin with blue veins running the length of her legs was on full display.
I gasped and then couldn’t seem to close my mouth. I scanned the backyard and sighed in relief when the high wooden fence and trees surrounding the five-acre property came into view. Then I remembered Mom had recently put a concealment spell on the backyard because Danu and Grandma Ruby had been spending a lot of time working on Danu’s magic this summer.
I breathed in and out, calming myself. “Grandma Ruby, what are you wearing? You haven’t left the house like that have you?” I was trying not to be disrespectful in my panic, but with school starting back in a couple of weeks, I didn’t want the kids teasing me about my crazy grandma on the first day. I had my whole junior year ahead of me for that.
“What? It’s hot out here. Besides, I think I look good.” She twirled around and Danu put out a hand to steady her when she tilted to one side. As she turned, I got a good view of Grandma Ruby. Way more than I ever wanted to see. Fortunately, she was skinny and her boobs weren’t that big, so they didn’t sag down like some of my friends’ grandmothers. Still, the side view of Grandma Ruby and the glimpse of buttcheek were a little more than I needed to see. Ever.
Shaking my head, I remembered Babette. Focus, Charley. “Why was Babette flying through the air?”
“Well, Miss Nosy. I told Danu she had to get over her fear of flying and get on the broom and she said, ‘When pigs fly.’ So…” Grandma Ruby waved her arm in front of her as if it was a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Danu’s laugh burst into the silence that followed. “I’m still not getting on that broom, you old witch.”
“Better an old witch than a scared witch.” Grandma Ruby bent over to pick up the broom lying on the ground and I slapped a hand over my eyes. Seriously, the woman needed to put some clothes on.
I peeked through my fingers and found her standing again. I lowered my arm and turned around, opening the door. I commented over my shoulder, “You know… Mom’s not going to be happy when she finds out what you did to her familiar.
“Well, don’t be a tattletale!” Grandma Ruby shouted at me.
Just before the door closed I said, “I won’t have to say a word. Babette will tell her.” I glanced back through the screen and saw Grandma Ruby frown which made me smile.
Excerpt:
Cackling, laughter, and high-pitched squealing came from our backyard as I stepped outside just in time to snatch Babette, our miniature pig, out of the air.
“What the heck is going on?” I cuddled Babette to me, her squeals slowly ratcheting down as she pushed her warm velvety snout into my neck. I hugged her closer and she quieted.
Even at ten o’clock in the morning, the scorching Texas heat had me sweltering in seconds. Backing up, I opened the screen door and sat Babette gently inside before turning to face the dastardly duo in the yard. My cousin Danu was bent at the waist, hands on her knees, laughing so hard she had tears streaming down her face. My great-grandmother, who was definitely old enough to know better, cackled the laugh of the wicked witch she sometimes was.
“What in heaven’s name do you two think you’re doing? You’ve probably traumatized Babette for life.” Folding my arms across my chest I stood looking at them, my bare foot tapping against the wooden beams of the porch.
“Oh, don’t be a spoilsport, Charley.” Grandma Ruby huffed and rolled her eyes. She sometimes acted like a twelve-year-old rather than someone in her seventies.
It’s not every day you see a pig flying by. Not even in Whispering Pines. As shocking as that was I was still surprised it took so long to finally notice Grandma Ruby’s attire and my eyes nearly bugged out of my head. She wore her signature ruby red, of course. Only today, the color spanned a pair of shorts. Short shorts. I mean, really reeaallly short. A black halter-top adorned with red ladybugs and black combat boots finished off the outfit. Pasty white wrinkled skin with blue veins running the length of her legs was on full display.
I gasped and then couldn’t seem to close my mouth. I scanned the backyard and sighed in relief when the high wooden fence and trees surrounding the five-acre property came into view. Then I remembered Mom had recently put a concealment spell on the backyard because Danu and Grandma Ruby had been spending a lot of time working on Danu’s magic this summer.
I breathed in and out, calming myself. “Grandma Ruby, what are you wearing? You haven’t left the house like that have you?” I was trying not to be disrespectful in my panic, but with school starting back in a couple of weeks, I didn’t want the kids teasing me about my crazy grandma on the first day. I had my whole junior year ahead of me for that.
“What? It’s hot out here. Besides, I think I look good.” She twirled around and Danu put out a hand to steady her when she tilted to one side. As she turned, I got a good view of Grandma Ruby. Way more than I ever wanted to see. Fortunately, she was skinny and her boobs weren’t that big, so they didn’t sag down like some of my friends’ grandmothers. Still, the side view of Grandma Ruby and the glimpse of buttcheek were a little more than I needed to see. Ever.
Shaking my head, I remembered Babette. Focus, Charley. “Why was Babette flying through the air?”
“Well, Miss Nosy. I told Danu she had to get over her fear of flying and get on the broom and she said, ‘When pigs fly.’ So…” Grandma Ruby waved her arm in front of her as if it was a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Danu’s laugh burst into the silence that followed. “I’m still not getting on that broom, you old witch.”
“Better an old witch than a scared witch.” Grandma Ruby bent over to pick up the broom lying on the ground and I slapped a hand over my eyes. Seriously, the woman needed to put some clothes on.
I peeked through my fingers and found her standing again. I lowered my arm and turned around, opening the door. I commented over my shoulder, “You know… Mom’s not going to be happy when she finds out what you did to her familiar.
“Well, don’t be a tattletale!” Grandma Ruby shouted at me.
Just before the door closed I said, “I won’t have to say a word. Babette will tell her.” I glanced back through the screen and saw Grandma Ruby frown which made me smile.
Rhonda Hopkins
Hi Sherry! I usually read 60+ books/year. BUT, I read really really fast and I read every night. I also don't watch TV (I binge watch one weekend every month or two. LOL) I don't finish reading about one in every ten books for various reasons -- either there are issues with the writing or the book just wasn't for me, even if technically flawless. However, I don't like making people feel bad by putting DNF as a tag, so I just don't review or rate.
I also don't review or rate if I can't give a book at least a 4 for the most part, although there have been exceptions. That's just my personal preference. I definitely believe in writer karma. ;-) I do appreciate those who leave reviews/ratings at all levels though. It's important to the overall book experience.
So, when you see me starting to read books back to back quickly, they were either really short or I didn't finish. I can usually finish a novel length book in two to three nights.
Thanks for asking the question! It made me realize how far behind I am on rating a bunch of books. LOL I'll need to take care of that this weekend. :-)
By the way, my apologies for not answering your last question about this --- I just now saw it. And thank you so much for the kind words about me being a gifted writer. You made my day! :-D
I see you're in Wisconsin. I have a friend, Stacey Joy Netzel, that writes books set there. I've never been, but her books make me want to visit some day.
I hope you're having a wonderful week!
Rhonda
I also don't review or rate if I can't give a book at least a 4 for the most part, although there have been exceptions. That's just my personal preference. I definitely believe in writer karma. ;-) I do appreciate those who leave reviews/ratings at all levels though. It's important to the overall book experience.
So, when you see me starting to read books back to back quickly, they were either really short or I didn't finish. I can usually finish a novel length book in two to three nights.
Thanks for asking the question! It made me realize how far behind I am on rating a bunch of books. LOL I'll need to take care of that this weekend. :-)
By the way, my apologies for not answering your last question about this --- I just now saw it. And thank you so much for the kind words about me being a gifted writer. You made my day! :-D
I see you're in Wisconsin. I have a friend, Stacey Joy Netzel, that writes books set there. I've never been, but her books make me want to visit some day.
I hope you're having a wonderful week!
Rhonda
Rhonda Hopkins
I was asked to provide a short horror story for an anthology that would benefit cancer research. The resulting story, SURVIVAL, came to me all at once, when I sat down to think of ideas. I'd never written about zombies before, but I do love reading about them and of course watching TWD. SURVIVAL debuted in the LET'S SCARE CANCER TO DEATH anthology with the proceeds going to The V Foundation for Cancer Research.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed writing SURVIVAL and decided I should continue the saga of Sarah, Dana, and their group of survivors. So I'm currently working on part 2.
Thank you to everyone who has read it and to those who have written reviews. If you haven't yet - I would encourage you to purchase the LET'S SCARE CANCER TO DEATH anthology. At the time of this post, the ebook version is only 99 cents and the paperback copy is on sale for only $12.96. All proceeds go for cancer research. And the book is rated 4.8 in reviews on Amazon and 4.6 here on Goodreads. Lots of great stories from authors I admire. :-)
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed writing SURVIVAL and decided I should continue the saga of Sarah, Dana, and their group of survivors. So I'm currently working on part 2.
Thank you to everyone who has read it and to those who have written reviews. If you haven't yet - I would encourage you to purchase the LET'S SCARE CANCER TO DEATH anthology. At the time of this post, the ebook version is only 99 cents and the paperback copy is on sale for only $12.96. All proceeds go for cancer research. And the book is rated 4.8 in reviews on Amazon and 4.6 here on Goodreads. Lots of great stories from authors I admire. :-)
Rhonda Hopkins
That I get paid for making stuff up. :-) I love being able to work from home in my pjs if that's what I feel like doing. I can write when I want, for as long as I want. But the very best thing is being able to tap into my creativity and write something from nothing and have people enjoy it. That's the best feeling! :-)
Rhonda Hopkins
I haven't really experienced a total block. But, sometimes the words are harder to come by than others. During those times, I'll work on a different scene, a different manuscript, or I'll just take a break and let my brain work on it in the background. Something usually comes to me. And 3am seems to be a favorite time for my muse to show up. :-)
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