The lovely author, Regina Puckett is my fourteenth awesome guest on my, 'Deliciously Scandalous Blog Tour'.

My next guest is a huge inspiration to me and also a great friend here in my cyber world. I can always tell a good person from a bad, and I will tell you now this lady has a huge heart of gold and is one talented lady. When the chips have been down for me, and trust me I have had a very bumpy ride, I know I can count on her words of wisdom to pick me back up again. I won't beat around the bush, I have done too much of that in my time, but they do make awesome stories, that's if you can handle a heatwave 'Giggles'  Anyway I best introduce my mum to you all! No she isn't really, but I do call her that on twitter and Facebook, but if she was, I know she would be my perfect mother! Stop looking at me and rolling your eyes back, I will get on with the interview! Shhhh! Don't say a word... My next guest is the awesome author, Regina Puckett all the way from Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and has two grown up daughters, one I call my Sis; yes, the great Charity Parkerson who is lucky enough to have this fantastic lady as a mum! Sorry I am filling up here Regina, where was I... Yes, she has four lovely grandchildren, and is the author of sweet romance novels, short tales of horror, inspirational short stories, poetry and children's picture books... As you can see Regina is one very smart lady, lets see how you get on with the first question, I can tell you're dying to speak...

Sometimes in life we all want more than what we can have, but if you had one wish to have anything or anyone, what would that wish be and why?

My biggest dream has always been to be a writer, so I’m living my dream.  If I had to wish for something, it would be to never run out of stories to tell.

It is lovely to hear when dreams come true, you are living that dream, I am living mine too at this end with gaining a cyber mum :) 

I would like you to make a short story up using no more than 400 words containing every one of these 14 key words; Box, Game, Showers, Dad, Figure, Window, Government, Dog Poo, Sex, Lamp, Spoon, Hole, Flame, Sheep!  

“I was certain you wouldn’t mind walking Marvin.  After all, what’s another animal thrown into the mix?”

Mr. Casper handed Susan the dog leash, and then with the toe of his shoe nudged ‘Marvin’ out the door.  As soon as that was accomplished, he shut the door before Susan had time to protest or react to the strange new twist to what was turning out to be ‘The Day From Hell.

Without Mr. Casper there as a witness, Marvin and Susan eyed each other warily.  Seeing no other choice, Susan tugged at Marvin’s leash, hoping against hope that the dogs in her care wouldn’t think Marvin was a new doggie treat or something.  Fortunately, after a few sniffs, the dogs accepted the sheep as one of the guys. Things were actually looking up until Susan tried getting Marvin to follow her off of the porch. Instead following her lead though, the damn four-legged sweater dug in his heels and refused to move.

By this time, the dogs were wrapping their leashes around her and the nearest porch posts. It was enough to make Susan seriously consider tying Marvin’s lease to the front doorknob and leaving him behind, but just as she was about to do just that, Mr. Casper peeked out of the living room window. 

Feeling like a two year old on the verge of throwing a temper tantrum, Susan whispered to the stubborn sheep, “I should have stayed in bed this morning when I heard the rain and hail hitting my bedroom window, but the optimistic in me said, “get up and face the day”. But what did I get for my trouble?  I lost my spoon in the garage disposal, and then I broke mom’s favorite lamp. When Dad gets home, he’s going to box my stuff up and set fire to it.  With the way my day’s going, the flames will probably spread and burn the entire neighborhood down.”

The sad story of her life must have made Marvin feel bad for acting like such a jerk, because he immediately jumped off of the front porch to join her and the dogs. As a reward, Susan petted his head. “Thank goodness.  I thought I was going to have to cook you for supper tonight, so I could dispose of the evidence of your early demise.”

Things were actually looking up for a few minutes, but about four blocks later, rain showers began falling, and if that wasn’t bad enough, she stepped into a hole in the sidewalk and twisted her ankle. Feeling like her day couldn’t get any worse, Susan sat on the nearest curb and began sobbing. Now at easy access, the dogs began licking the tears off of her face and Marvin plopped into her lap.

Susan tried pushing, the now wet and very smelly, sheep off of her.  When he refused to budge, she threw her hands into the air. “Fine. I give up.  I haven’t had sex in six months.  There’s a sheep in my lap and I have five dogs who think crying is some sort of game.” 

Just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse, a car drove by and splashed water all over her. If more tears would help the situation, she might have cried harder, but since they hadn’t helped so far, she tried pushing Marvin out of her lap again.  Instead of him moving though, three of the dogs joined him.  There was really nothing left to do but laugh.  “Fine.  I know a government conspiracy when I see one.” Susan sat there in the pouring rain and waited for the flames of Hell to consume her.

Great story mum, but what about the figure and the dog poo! Not to worry, I will see plenty of figures when I am out tonight in my virtual pub. I love that place you know, there is no hassle, and everyone is so friendly, 'Giggles' As for the dog poo, it's shit that you have left it out, but sill it is a crap word that I put in there, speaking of crap...

When I first started writing I had a lot of negative people around me, I know I  had to lose that energy in order to continue writing and fulfilling what others thought I couldn’t do. Did you ever experience any of this when you first started writing or were you lucky enough to have the right support around you?

I discovered a long time ago not to depend on other people to believe in the goals I set for myself. My family loves me, but I don’t believe they ever thought I had it in me to become a writer. The truth is, I do my best work when faced with a challenge that no one else believes I can win. I’m used to fighting all of my own fights.  I really don’t know how to do it any other way.

I can understand what you are saying there, my family and even friends, or should I say who I thought were friends never thought I had it in me too, but I think as time has moved on, they can see the change in me and know my determination that no one was going to stop my new found passion, I did say you were family. We just keep fighting and it all does turn out right in the end. That give me an idea...

If you had a chance to run any country and make a difference, what country would it be and why?

No one wants to put me in charge of a business much less an entire country.  I let power go to my head. It would be ‘off with their heads’ or ‘let them eat cake’.

My you just made Louie cringe! Don't worry I told him his head is safe. 'Phew' I wouldn't say no to the cake though, I will look for your county when I'm sleeping, I will even name it, Reginaville, just so it sticks in the back of your mind, I love cake, but some people don't like it. I guess that's the same as books...

What would you say the worst thing a reader has ever said to you and what was your reaction?

When I wrote The Beauty in the Beast, I thought it was the best story I had ever written, but when I released it, people either loved it or hated it. The harsh criticism hurt a lot because I loved my little sweet romance so much.  This story says a lot about what I believe about life and how I see people dealing with the struggles in their lives.  All the time I see how the same situation affects two people so totally differently.  One person will live through a horrible situation and use that pain to make something good out of it. Another person will let that same situation destroy their entire life.

There was so much of my heart in that short tale that when people hated it, it felt as if they hated me.  But I have to say, those reviews helped me to grow a thicker skin and figure out how to use them to become a better writer. 

I agree with everything you have said there. You can take reviews harsh at first, but you do learn from them, and we do learn from them, and they do push us forward. We write from the heart, and that heart does give us awesome stories, but unfortunately not everyone is going to like them. People have their own minds, and as you said, they are not the same. Someone can be suffering without knowing how to deal with a situation, and another person can just brush it to one side and not let the same problem bother them, not like my next question I am about to ask you...

I would like you to vision yourself walking down a busy high street with your partner and suddenly there was a noise that came from her (his) bottom and people turned around looking at you, what would your reaction be and why?

You act like that doesn’t happen to me just about every day of my life.  I figured out a long time ago not to walk next to my husband when we are out in a public place. The man has no shame.

He sounds like a true man, 'Giggles' I mean in the respect of not giving a s..t! It could be worse, he could follow through. Yuck!  No don't reply to that thought, let's bring on some happy thoughts! 

Use only two words that would describe you?

Happy mess

8, Have you ever been…

A, The owner of a lonely heart.

B. The owner of a broken heart

C. None of the above?

A & B-People break my heart every day and I can be lonely in the middle of a crowd. And none of that is anyone’s fault but my own.

It's time for a little fun, I would like you to do the rhyme ‘Humpty Dumpty’.

Can you believe that hussy is out there sitting on the wall again? Her pimp is on the other side just waiting for all of the king’s men to go riding by.  Every time he pushes her off, the horsemen stop and handle all of her bits and pieces. There ought to be a law against such depravity taking place right in the middle of the street and in broad daylight. 

I was just googling that street! It is in Reginaville! Your country is pretty cool so far, 'Giggles' Speaking of cool..

When you are writing, do you ever think, 'Erm me and my partner did that last night, that has to go into the story as?

You made me laugh. 

I take that as a yes then, I will move on and say no more other than, what book are you both in? 'Giggles'. Only joking, you know me and I like to have a good laugh to, I am just glad it runs in the family ;) 

If you could be a Musical instrument, what would you be and why?

I would be a violin. It makes the sweetest music. Who wouldn't want to be the instrument everyone stops what they're doing so they can listen to it?

That's so true, I guess that's why we write instead ;)

If you could change one thing about you as a person, what would that one thing be?

I wish I had more confidence in myself. I'm such a pushover.

Awww bless mum, I find that hard to believe, look at you and your wonderful family, look at everything you've achieved, and the awesome work you are still doing! Saying that, I feel the same about myself at times. I think we all get that feeling so many times in our lives, but we have to kick ourselves as we know deep down those voices are holding us back. In our game we mustn't let anyone stand in our way, other wise dreams will not be filled. Speaking of dreams can you remember this far back....

I know we all remember our first kiss, would you say yours was a good experience or a bad one?  Please explain why.

I have only kissed one man before.  I began dating my husband when I was fifteen. His car broke down on our first date, and while we were waiting for my parents, he used his time wisely.  It must have been a great experience, because I married him three and a half years later, after I graduating from high school.

Awww you are so sweet! Kissing just one person before your husband, you won't find that this day and age any more, I take my hat off to you! My lips are wearing thin trying to find that right person, 'Giggles'. Moving on from the snogging talk...

Do you ever remember a part in your life that’s made a huge impact on you as a person. If so would you like to share that part with the reader?

I’ve lived long enough to have several things fall into that category, but my daughters have probably been my biggest successes.  They turned out to be beautiful people, in spite of me, and have taught me the most about life.

I'm going to start crying if you carry on like that mum, all those years you have missed out on my childhood...... Shame on you! Giggles. Still you are making up for lost time now, I wonder what my really mum is doing now, picking cig ends up off the floor or living a life of luxury, I wonder if she knows I am alive! One thing I have learnt in life is no matter what, you never turn your back on your children 

 Can you tell the reader about your latest work and also tell the reader where they can find you.

I just released my sweet romance, Concealed in My Heart.  I received my rights back to it last December.  It took several months of rewriting and editing to make it into a thing of beauty.  I have always loved this story, but my writing style has changed so much since the book’s first release, it took loads of hard work before I felt comfortable enough to release it again.  I also found an excellent editor, Debra Hartman.  She was a huge help, and I’m so proud of the way it turned out.

Website   http://reginapuckettsbooks.weebly.com/index.html

Goodreads, http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/154116.Regina_Puckett

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/regina.puckett1?ref=tn_tnmn

Twitter, https://twitter.com/ReginaPucket

Blog Page, http://reginapuckettsbooks.weebly.com/blog.html

I would like to thank Regina for dropping by today. I am glad you have your rights back, I know it does take a lot of work when you're rewriting it all again. I have just done that with 'Passion' 'The Louie Has Landed Series', and that took me around 9 months to do :( I am just happy that I can now write my new stories, it wasn't a nice feeling for me having to re-live it all. 

I know I have driven this lady to drink now! I must have,Regina isn't about and I can see her in my virtual pub ;) Anyway I would like to thank you all for joining me on my tour and all the support you have all shown. As you know I did start of doing this once a week, and maintained it for `3 weeks, but unfortunately due to my situation at this end, I had to step back from a lot of things to sort my own stuff out, my head hasn't been in the best place, and when my head isn't in a good place, my writing isn't. I hope I have given my head a huge wobble and I will be back on track again very soon, but until then I will just be posting when I have the time to do so. There is a long way to go yet with this tour, and I do have some great ideas along with some great questions to be asked! Make sure you keep an eye out for my next awesome guests... Coming soon ;) 

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