It’s always fun when we Chicks get the chance to host prolific author DonnaRae Menard. Today DonnaRae is back to tell us about her latest mystery THE AFFILIATE: A Postmaster on the Case Mystery. Plus she’s offering a generous #GIVEAWAY! Take it away, DonnaRae!
WHO’S PUSHING WHO? by DonnaRae Menard
Let me start by saying that I’m good with people. Big family, always worked in customer relations, and taken a ton of related training. I am, however, sometimes a little rough on the edges. But I never considered myself a bully. In the arena of writers and published authors, I’m small potatoes. I want to know what everyone knows; I want to meet everyone, and I want to continue enjoying what I do.
A while back, I was caught in a situation that left me questioning this path I chose. Not because I was intimidated by the big names, but because someone made me feel unsafe. I was lucky because in those moments I was a babbling fool, Lancelot rode in on his white steed, and they saved me. I know that sounds like a fairytale, or maybe a romance novel, but honest to Great Aunt Gloria’s mummified remains, it’s the truth.
I swore I’d never put myself in that predicament again. Then voila! I was. Except this time, I was the threat. To be exact, I opened my mouth and delivered what I meant to be a compliment to someone who I didn’t know, who then questioned my motives. But I was already gone. At the airport, a third person told me about a conversation overheard, and a remark made. I couldn’t believe it. I knew instantly that I was the person guilty of making someone else question what they were doing. I died a thousand deaths.
When I got home, I searched for the private address of the person I had tried to compliment, and I bit the bullet. I apologized and explained what I meant. I would have even made a public apology if needed. The wronged person was so gracious, and explained that after the first shock, they realized I wasn’t the enemy.
Why am I telling you this? For a couple of reasons. First, periodically we all get criticism and suffer for it. Then we allow it to affect what we do. And you shouldn’t. You know you. Don’t let some attitude rain on your parade. And finally, if, like me, you step in a big pile, step forward and accept responsibility. By doing so, you let that other person know you’ve become aware of your dubious actions. If they don’t accept your sincere apology, I’m sorry, but to not make the effort, to not try, is shame on you.
We’re a tight group, and together we are mighty. Smokey the Bear said only we could…well, I guess…keep each other safe.
Readers, have you ever said anything you wish you hadn’t? Let us know in the comments below—and you’ll be entered in DonnaRae’s giveaway of a copy of THE AFFILIATE!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
She wanted to be James Bond in stilettos and a slutty trench coat, until the bullets started flying…
Jan Hoyer is a mid-level postmaster, satisfied with her job and fairly content with her life, yet seeking a little extra excitement. A Postal Inspector offers her a position in his department as an affiliate, needing someone willing to conduct feet-on-the-street reconnaissance in areas where employees are bending the rules—reconnaissance he is prohibited from undertaking. Hoyer accepts the offer. The previous cases have been small, but they have given her a Jane Bond thrill that she appreciates. This new case involves the transportation of stolen international artifacts. She is instructed to observe and report only, but when the man’s wife dies in an explosion at their home, Hoyer starts to get more involved. A detonator is discovered in the wreckage, the mail carrier is beginning to unravel, and Hoyer finds a connection between both cases. Just as the Inspection Service is closing in, that connection vanishes. Will Hoyer be able to uncover the link, or will this case go cold? BUY LINK for THE AFFILIATE (A Postmaster on the Case Mystery)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
DONNARAE MENARD is a hybrid author with both self-published books and works with Level Best Books and Of Metal and Magic Publishing. She is the author of Murder in the Meadow. New on her list are Beneath the Fountain; Murder on the Small Farm; The Morality Issue; and Snuffling up Bones, Book One in The Pig & I series. She has an affinity for odd jobs, rescued cats, and talking about her 450-pound lap pig. Find out more about DonnaRae at donnaraemenardbooks.com.
Chicks on the Case 
DONNARAE
thank you for the post. It’s refreshing in this day and age to hear someone admit to a potential mistake, let alone apologize and try to fix it. With a total stranger!
it is sad to see people take things the wrong way. Hopefully we will impart our wisdom and morals on the next generations before it’s too late.
Have I ever said something I wish I could take back? The more appropriate question is when haven’t I? The worst was with my sister. I asked her a few years ago why she never asked about how my job was going (I love it, but most people run when they learn what I do for a living). She said she didn’t care, because she never liked me. The worst day of my life, when I started questioning who I really was.
be careful when you ask a question, because you never know if it’s going to bite you!
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Hestia, You are certainly one early bird! I’m sorry your sister and you are at odds. I have five, and a few years ago I let my petty side step up to the plate. I’m shamed to say that even though I’ve tried to make amends, I’m not there yet. But we’ll see. Out of curiosity, what do you do for a job. (If it has anything to do with a morgue, I WANT TO KNOW!) lol.
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Hestia,
I’m hugging you so hard. I’m so sorry you had that experience.
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It taught me a valuable lesson Patricia, that I’ve forgotten with age. That being; not everyone knows what’s going on inside my head. So, I should make sure all is clear before I show my rear moving away.
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Oh, that’s so sad, Hestia…
And now I also want to know all the juicy job details!
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Yeah, me too. Wait! Which one of us are you talking about, cause I’m probably going to dump my angst in the next book!
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Aww, Hestia, that’s terrible. Sorry you were hurt. Never question who you are (and keep up the great work–we need you!).
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Oh my dear Hestia, that is so awful. But your sister is an aberration, because we all LOVE you! (And I’m always fascinated to hear about your job.)
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See? Me too! I want to hear about the job!
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Hi Hestia, by popular vote, you get the giveaway copy of THE AFFILIATE. I will mail you your signed first edition, all you have to do is send me your address. Please use my email address for information. menarddonnarae@gmail.com. Congratulations! Feel free to leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or Bookbubs. xo
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Congrats on the new book! I put my foot in in many a time. Usually, I am able to recover and apologize. There was one person who refused to accept my apology, but I tried.
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Good for you for trying!
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That’s it exactly. All I can do is beat my chest mea cupla. I was wrong. I admit it. Even though it hurts not to have made amends, I made the effort and can only wait and hope. Yeah, I’m pretty jazzed about the book. My DNA ended the day before the book came out. My daughter says this one is going to get me 3 square and a roof over my head for years.
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DonnaRae, your post filled my heart with so much joy. Thank you for sharing your experience and for encouraging us to find the courage to accept responsibility for our actions. I look forward to meeting you in real life, hopefully soon. xoxoxo
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Thanks Patricia. I hope to meet all of you soon as well. I’m having a blast at what I’m doing. Lisa and Ellen will tell you, I’m bouncing off the boundries.
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Thank you for being real, DonnaRae! I’ve definitely said things I’ve regretted (and have had people say things to me as well). I try to apologize and make amends the best I can. Sometimes it works, other times… But we’re human and hopefully, we try to work things out and be at peace.
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So agree, Jen!
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What are you doing here? Go back to work or the candy won’t be in your mailbox! lol.
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Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I’m pretty thick skinned and I don’t always understand innuendos, so I miss a lot. Oh, and I have senior citizen memory. If you offer me candy, I forget everything else.
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Oof, I’ve definitely spoken out of turn or said things I regret. But I do try to apologize when I know I’ve done so.
Thank you for this heartfelt post, DonnaRae, and thanks so much for visiting the Chicks today! And congrats on the new book–it looks great!
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Thank you, Leslie. I had a blast. My granddaughter keeps asking me what I’m laughing at. Today, I don’t have to tell her that it’s the cartoon in my mind.
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DonnaRae, we are so happy to have you visit us Chicks today! And I want to tell everyone what a cool and super-unique story THE AFFILIATE is–I really enjoyed it. A whole other world, the USPS. And loved your honesty about your unintentional faux pas–but I’m betting you made a new friend. I sometimes get my wires crossed with people who are very, very literal, and have to quickly backtrack. Oh, and I asked a good friend once (back in the 90s) when she was due and she wasn’t expecting. That was horrible. I’ve never made that mistake again.
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Well, that’s a funny one, Lisa. I asked the doctor last Monday when I was due. She told me belly fat doesn’t make a baby and most woman who are seventy-three don’t have whoops pregnancies! On the flip, I had a great time with this book. The vic is imaginary, the experience wasn’t. I got rid of a lot of angst.
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I’m still haunted by what I said to my sister when I was 13. She was 8 years older than me and was gorgeous, right when I was super awkward. I worshipped her in that little sister way. One day she said, “Grandmother criticized me for getting bigger, but it’s not fat, it’s muscle.” To this day, I don’t know why I decided to test my chops as an insult comic, but I blurted out, “Yeah, you just have a very muscular stomach!” Why. Did. I. Say. That?!?!? I still cringe when I think about it.
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Wait until you get my age! There are a lot of things I regret saying and I’ll never be able to tell those people. My Micmac grandmother said to take a piece of birch, hold it in both hands and whisper my pain, then bury it. Use the flush, which is the pushing off of hands from body to The Mother and order it away. Then leave. The Mother will ease the ache.
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I have a huge regret re: something I once said that actually wound up costing a potential job. It still smarts to recall the whole thing.
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But you learned, Grasshopper. Right? Me too.
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I think we all make mistakes and insert our foot in our mouth when we don’t mean to. When do this though we need to apologize and own up to our mistake. Good for you that you did apologize, DonnaRae. It takes courage to do so.
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Thank you, but I have to admit that at the time I felt I was the only mackerel in the sea. Oily, stinking, and rotten to the bone.
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Yes, there are things I wish I could take back. Usually, I’m trying to make someone laugh, and the joke doesn’t go over well at all. Cheers to you for working to make it right.
As to me, I’m thinking of something that happened one year at high school camp. And I think my attempt to publicly apologize just made things worse.
(Yes, please enter me in the giveaway.)
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Kudos to you for going public with the apology. I started with just the other person and I because I wasn’t sure if they were the only one who felt slighted or not, but if I would have had to face the nation, per se, I would have done so. They were gracious, I was relieved, but each time I think about it I still feel shamed. Good luck on the draw (for the book.)
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