I was tickled pink to find a fragrance evoking the 1920s called--you'll never guess--1920! It's made by Besame Cosmetics and is described as having top notes of mandarin, juniper berry and galbanum; heart notes of jasmine, violet, muguet, and suede; and base notes of cocoa, myrrh, amber, and musks. I may not know what all that means, but I think it smells divine. And isn't the bottle pretty? 

It's fun to find out what you people of the future enjoy about my era. What do I enjoy most about yours?

XOXO

Marjorie

Interview with former gangster's moll, Dot Rodgers

My friend Dot, who bears a striking resemblance to actress Louise Brooks

My author Jennifer recently turned in the manuscript for another story set in my world, the Roaring Twenties. This one doesn't star me and Peter, though. We're stepping aside this time so Jennifer can focus on my BFF and roommate, Dot Rodgers, and my brother, Charlie. The story's called Ain't Misbehavin' and it's coming out in March 2018. I still appear in the story, just not on every page like last time. I've invited Dot to the studio today to tell us all about herself. 

Marjorie Corrigan: Hello, Dot. Welcome to the year 2017, and to my blog.

Dot Rodgers: Your what?

MC: My blog. It's sort of like a diary, but it's public.

DR: You're interviewing me for your diary? I should think you'd have enough crazy shenanigans going on in your own life without adding my two cents.

MC: It's not that kind of diary.

DR: Although I suppose my life up until recently has been a smidgen more colorful than yours.

MC: That's not exactly what I--

DR: Because if you want a diary worth reading, you should read mine. Although I don't think I ever got it back after the coppers took it as evidence in my ex-boyfriend's bootlegging trial.

MC: I don't think--

DR: Be sure to say it was written before my life changed, though. Before I wised up and before Charlie came into my life and ... and everything. It no longer reflects who I am. So on second thought, maybe you'd better not read it aloud after all.

MC: Agreed. Moving on ... tell us a bit about yourself.

DR: I grew up in a small town in Indiana.

MC: A preacher's daughter, I believe?

DR: We won't be discussing that. I moved to Chicago when I was eighteen and got a job selling hats at Marshall Field, and singing in a restaurant at night.

MC: A speakeasy?

DR: A restaurant. Res-to-rant. Italian.


MC: Uh-huh. 

DR: Best garlic bread this side of Venice. Or so I'm told.

MC: Was that when you started dating notorious gangster Louie Braccio?

DR: Do I have to answer that question?

MC: I think you just did. How did you meet Charlie Corrigan?

DR: You set us up.

MC: I didn't set you up. I merely asked you to double-date with Richard and me.

DR: Same thing. 

MC: Was it love at first sight?

DR:  It's complicated.

MC: In other words, you don't want to tell us.

DR: It's all in the book.

MC: What are you doing these days?

DR: I'm still a sales clerk, but not hats. I'm still singing, but not in a speak--I mean, restaurant.

MC: So your life has changed, huh?

DR: Huge change. I'm not the same girl I used to be. I did a one-eighty, as they say here in the twenty-first century.

MC: You've been doing your homework.

DR: Of course. I had to know what to wear. Speaking of, what in the world happened to ladies' fashions? Was there some kind of disaster that everyone's going around in torn dungarees? Where are the hats?

MC: We'll talk about that later. Right now, our readers are dying to know, what's going on with you and Charlie?

DR: If I tell you, I'll have to kill you.[wink]

MC: No more gangster talk. You promised. Your life has changed, remember?

DR: Right. Sorry.

MC: So ... you and Charlie?

DR: A lady never tells. 

MC: *sigh* So this has been Dot Rodgers, ladies and gentlemen, telling us precisely nothing we want to know.

DR: You'll just have to read the book, dollface. 

MC: Ain't Misbehavin', coming March 2018 from Smitten Historical Romance and Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.

DR: Toodles!

Love,

Marjorie