I’m not a girlie-girl. I don’t think I’ve worn a dress in over fifteen years. Most days I wear sweats or baggie Capri pants and a t-shirt. My shoes are most often rubber thongs. I like my makeup and hair non-fussy. However, the one feminine decoration I do indulge in is jewelry. I like shiny, sparkly things. I never met a ruby I didn’t drool over, or a sapphire that didn’t make my heart melt. It’s a recent obsession; one my local jeweler indulges by letting me know when some particularly unusual piece comes in. I always have something on lay-away. I love estate jewelry and love it when it’s inscribed with a message. It makes me wonder about the story of the person who wore it.
I also have charm bracelets. Yeah, not just one. One holds charms from my travels. Another has charms that inspire stories; this one is the bracelet for my publishing credits. My sister gave me the bracelet with only the “A” on it when I sold to Avon. Last night, I ordered a “B”, “K”, “E” and “S” for my other major publishers and took a picture so you could see where I am with it.
So far, from the top, right of the clasp, I have an Irish Claddagh—that one was compulsory because my ex is pure and my children are blended Irish.
The enameled lips and lipstick charm was given to me by the Omaha RWA chapter when sis and I taught a weekend bootcamp there.
The cathedral was given to me as a remembrance by Betty Hanawa. It’s St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square, New Orleans. It figures in the first scene of the first Dark Realm book.
The “A” is for Avon, given to me by Elle James, my sister, when I sold to Avon.
The handcuffs? They do double duty. I write lots of cops and kinky stuff.
The wolf is for my werewolves.
The Knight on the Horse, also a gift, I think from Betty too, is a for the My Immortal Knight series.
And lastly, the little bat is from Bev Zinn for all the vampires I write.
Now, I have to find something Viking, something demon-y, and something Texas and cowboy.
I’m an acquisitive creature, aren’t I? Do you have any jewelry that means something to you? Are you crazy for those charm bracelets too?
