Sunday, April 17, 2016

Handbag & Book: #mysteryauthor Judy Penz Sheluk #fashion #vintagehandbag #RssosSister #MFRWorg #Sinc


Handbag & Book with 
Judy Penz Sheluk

  I’ll admit it. I’m not much of a purse person. In fact, I’ve been carrying around the same old black leather purse, year-round, for the past three years. When the shoulder strap finally broke, I simply took the carry strap off my Lululemon gym bag and used that. Problem solved.

But even a crusty old purse curmudgeon like me has at least one nice handbag, right? And in fact, I do: This lovely sequined evening bag that I’ve owned—and loved— since the mid 1970s. Note the rhinestone in the snap, and lovely creamy white silk lining. Not to mention all those shiny sequins and seed pearls.

The purse was a Christmas gift from a boyfriend’s parents. The boyfriend turned out to be a two-timing loser (a lesson learned later rather than sooner). His parents, however, were decent hardworking folks, and I enjoyed spending time with them, and their miniature poodle. I like to think the feeling was mutual.


Anyway, this was a time when you’d dress up for New Year’s Eve, even if you were just going to a house party. I can remember wearing a floor length black velvet skirt and a red blouse that year, along with this lovely little clutch, and feeling quite mature (I was about seventeen at the time). The moment was ruined when said boyfriend’s best friend asked me if I’d gained weight, but I digress. The point is, I still own that purse, but I’ve never worn it since that evening.


 And yet, in all my moves, in all my de-cluttering attempts, I’ve never once been tempted to get rid of it. Maybe that’s because it’s more than just a pretty purse to me, a memory maker if you will.


 And maybe because one day this pretty purse will serve as inspiration for a short crime fiction story. After all, it has all the ingredients needed for a darned good murder mystery: a cheating boyfriend, his jerk of a best friend, a naïve seventeen-year-old girl, New Year’s Eve… 
Small-town secrets and subterfuge lead to murder in this fast-moving, deftly written tale of high-stakes real estate wrangling gone amok. 

Emily Garland considered the offer on the table and nodded. It certainly sounded as though Urban-Huntzberger had everything covered. She wondered whether she should study the contract, contact a lawyer. Take a moment to decide whether this was the opportunity of a lifetime or an act of insanity. “How long do I have?”

“We need an answer ASAP. You’d move in by the end of the month, sooner if possible. The rental house has been recently renovated and is currently available.”

Michelle stood up. “Emily, you’ve been in this business long enough to know this kind of assignment doesn’t come along every day. Work with us. Get rich with us. And help us to expose Garrett Stonehaven for the lying, cheating, bastard we both know he is.” 

Definitely more to this scenario than meets the eye. Emily pulled a gold-plated pen out of her handbag, a graduation gift from her mother a dozen years ago. She twirled it between her fingers, remembering how proud her mom had been, her daughter the first one in the family to go beyond high school. Remembered the way her mother had looked the last time Emily saw her, shell-shocked and shattered.

“Where do I sign?” 

Find Judy at: Website

Find The Hanged Man's Noose at: Amazon

Judy, I swear I had a handbag like this one. I'm going to look now...

14 comments:

Angela Adams said...

The white beaded purse looks like the one I took to my prom.

Judy Penz Sheluk, author said...

Angela, it could well be!

Vicki, your purse is the same except in black. Now, the question is, do you have a white leather handbag with a lulu lemon gym bag strap?

Judy Penz Sheluk, author said...

I should mention that the eBook (Kindle/Kobo/Nook) version of The Hanged Man's Noose is on sale now for $2.99 until May 8th-- the regular price is $5.99. It's part of Barking Rain Press SPRING FLING sale.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Judy and thanks for sharing your handbag and book with me. No, lol, I don't have a lulu lemon bag with a gym strap. Right now, I'm carrying my turquoise Kate Spade. The funny thing about it was the cross body strap wasn't removable. I took it to a shoe shop and had removable clasps put on, just in case. I'm typically not a cross body handbag person.

Judy Penz Sheluk, author said...

Well, the purse is actually a Rudsack, and cost me about $300. Maybe that's why I'm so attached to it. I've never paid that much for a purse before. The strap, though, that's from my Lululemon gym bag, because the original strap broke last November. I did buy a new purse for the summer. It's fuscia and it's made by LUG from recycled water bottles. It does have the crossover strap -- which I love!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

I love the whole idea behind recycling. For example: I have 3 clutch handbags made from old car upholstery or upholstery for furniture fabric. And I love them.

Melissa Keir said...

What a beautiful bag! I had to laugh, though. I saw Vicki post about recycling and I couldn't see recycling that loser ex-boyfriend, good deal on the bag though! :)

I am like you and have one black bag for everything every day! The poor straps aren't holding up but I'm not sure I can find something I like as much, so I haven't replaced it. All the best on your book!

Judy sheluk said...

Thanks Melissa for commenting and yeah would not want to recycle the loser boyfriend
,

Kaye George said...

My tiny beaded purse is gold. I occasionally use it, but less and less, alas. Haven't been to a New Year's Eve party in years!

I wear the same boring one until it wears out, then buy another one. Since I refuse to pay more than $50 and prefer $20, they don't last all that long.

I DO think you can get a story out of yours!

Judy Sheluk said...

Thanks Kaye, it's percolating!

Zara West said...

I have a beaded evening purse just like yours, Judy. I thought it the most beautiful thing, but never ever used it. It was too small the get anything it, it except a hankie and emergency car fare. Besides, it kind of clashed with my tie dye outfits and long beads.

Judy Penz Sheluk, author said...

Zara, it is a bit like my "boots of no season" that I used to own. High heels so no good in winter. Suede so no good in the rain. Too hot for summer! But dang, they looked good!

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Judy Penz Sheluk, author said...

Thanks Hossain.