Bored, Stroked and Blueprinted - new cover up!

February 15, 2014

One of the things I always look forward to (with a touch of trepidation) is the cover for an upcoming release. Covers are the purview of the publisher. Yep. That's a period, end of the matter deal. They might give us lowly authors a form to fill out, but when it comes to the actual end product, it's take it or leave it. It's even a contractual item. 

I've been very lucky in my career. I'd say about ninety-percent of the covers I've received in my eleven years have been pretty darn good. The cover guru at Amber Quill does his level best to make "his" authors happy, which is in his best interest considering he's dealing with a bevy of females.  

I've waited a long time to splash a muscle car on the cover of one of my books. When Amber Allure put out the call for a PAX with a theme of our heroes meeting in a garage, I raised my cyber-hand. And what car should pull into the garage? That's a no-brainer. A 1969 Camaro Z28. 

Bored, Stroked and Blueprinted is a term mechanics use when restoring an engine. You bore (increase diameter) of the cylinders to install larger pistons then change out the camshaft for a longer stroke and you get more horsepower. To "blueprint" the engine is to rebuild it to very precise specs. Bored, Stroked and Blueprinted sounds sort of naughty but it's car talk. Of course, it's a KC book so there IS naughty inside. 

Drumroll please............

Here's the new cover for Bored, Stroked and Blueprinted, coming March 23, 2013. It's rather simplistic, but I like it. You can read a story excerpt here. 

BORED, STROKED, AND BLUEPRINTED

is available at:

Amazon

www.amazon.com/Bored-Stroked-Blueprinted-KC-Kendricks-ebook/dp/B07NKGWJWG

iTunes/Apple

itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1452108841

Barnes and Noble

www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1119495829

Rakuten/Kobo

www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/bored-stroked-and-blueprinted-1

KC Kendricks
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Valentine's Day? Oops!

February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day! As a writer of romance, I feel compelled, yes compelled, to write a V-Day blog.

I was going to google for the origins of Valentine's Day, but then I got lazy. Anyone can do that so I decided to share the day's place in my life.

We don't celebrate Valentine's Day. Oh, we exchange cheapie dollar store cards which honestly are just as nice, if not nicer, than expensive Hallmark cards. We've been together twenty-plus years so we've said it all and seen it all with each other.

Some years he's given me a tiny box of chocolate that is shared in a fifty-fifty split. Two or three pieces each. No bigee but a nice thought. Some years we've shared the preparation of a "fancy" dinner, but through most of the years Valentine's Day proves to be no big deal.

It's not that we don't like giving and receiving romantic gestures because we do. We just don't need a special day for them. We don't need to be told that today is the day to remember to tell each other "I love you." As a child of the 60's and 70's, I know some things need to be spontaneous and organic.

This morning I walked into the kitchen and spied a red envelope on the island. Instead of saying "how nice," I muttered "oh crap." (Well, words to that effect.) My card for him was at my office, ten miles away. It snowed yesterday and I didn't go to work so the card was still at my workplace. Oh, OOPS! Talk about poor planning and this from a person who lectures on organization.

When I got to work I snapped a few pictures of the card with my cellphone and sent them to him. Best I can do until I get home this evening and hand him the real thing. He thought it was creative and funny, and he appreciated that I'd taken a few minutes out of my morning to do it for him.

And so it goes, Valentine's Day 2014. No bells. No whistles. No credit card bills to pay off. Not even an "I love you." Just a heartfelt thanks for still caring through all the years.

It feels pretty darn good.

KC
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Wisdom has done it again!

February 9, 2014

Hooray for Wisdom!! According to a story published last Friday, Wisdom, a Laysan albatross and the world's oldest bird, has become a mother again at age 63. (Read the story here.)

Wisdom first captured my attention back in 2011. I love the strange and oddball pieces of news found on the Internet because I never know what will trigger an idea for a story. True, I doubt I'll write a bird story, but you never know. It may come to pass that a character might happen to be a backyard bird watcher. 

But back to Wisdom. She was first banded in 1956 as an adult bird so they do have a close approximation on her age. Layson albatross mate for life so it stands to reason she's outlived a few of her soul mates. That's sad to the romantic heart but there's a lesson there - never stop going forward. 

That she's still mating and producing a viable egg every year speaks to her continued health. In this era of doom and gloom news, Wisdom is a certainly a bright spot. She's calmly leading her life, doing what she does while blissfully unaware of her growing celebrity. 

Sounds like she's living up to her name. 

(Here's the link to last year's blog about Wisdom.)

KC Kendricks
http://www.kckendricks.com
http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks

Kentucky 98 Proof on the Seductive Studs & Sirens blog hop

February 8, 2014

**Updated 4/2/21 - the Seductive Studs & Sirens blog hop links have been disabled**

Ranger padded out of the bathroom, toenails clicking softly on the oak floor. Vic pulled his knees to his chest, held his breath, and slid under the water. He could almost float in the tub. He sat up, wiped the water from his eyes, and glared up at the tall man leaning on the doorframe.

“You’re early.”

“You’re not ready.” Boone raised an eyebrow. “But since you’re naked I don’t think I mind much.”

“The washcloth has me covered.”

“Damn. That must be disappointing.”

“It’s a big washcloth.”

Boone snorted. “Wouldn’t cover me.”

Vic flicked water drops at him. “You’re talking yourself into a corner, my friend. You gonna wash my back?” He grinned as the smirk faded from Boone’s face, replaced first by surprise then a glittering interest in his smoky blue gaze.  “Go make yourself useful and check the fire. And close the door.”

The muscles in Boone’s throat worked as he swallowed. “I’d rather climb in the tub with you.”

KENTUCKY 98 PROOF
Contemporary gay romance 

For more information, buy links, and a longer excerpt, please visit the author's website at https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/kentucky-98-proof-by-kc-kendricks.html 

*_*_*_*_*

Welcome to Between the Keys. While I usually hop on the My Sexy Saturday Blog Hop on Saturday, I thought I'd change it up a bit with the Seductive Studs & Sirens Blog Hop today. I hope you'll take the time to visit both.

*_*_*

Kentucky 98 Proof

Contemporary gay romance

Available at 

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E7JEXJ8

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01E7JEXJ8

Amazon CA:  https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01E7JEXJ8

iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1098677948

Barnes & Noble/Nook

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kentucky-98-proof-kc-kendricks/1117193113?ean=2940153237954

Rakuten/Kobo: www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/kentucky-98-proof-1

Universal link to additional booksellers: https://books2read.com/u/bp8BXb

Kentucky 98 Proof webpage: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/kentucky-98-proof-by-kc-kendricks.html

_*_*_*_*_

KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/the-bookshelf-of-kc-kendricks-and-rayne.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards

instagram.com/kc_kendricks

My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Life through the eyes of Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

Blogging vs. Freebie Story

February 3, 2014

"I wish she had a free book so I could see how she writes."

Ever hear someone say that? Ever say it yourself? Ever consider writing one? 

I was chatting with an author friend who bemoaned the fact she didn't have a free book available. I suggested she blog because every time an author blogs, she/he is writing something for free. Blog often enough and readers get a feel for your writing. Use your blog for promo and excerpts, and readers will get a sense of your books.  Join a great blog hop like My Sexy Saturday, and even the writer gets to enjoy free snippets and know the work of other writers. 

In this digital age, free is such a mixed bag. It's not that I'm opposed to free stories. Heck, I may actually find the time some day (which will really curtail my blogging time while I work on it). I think what bugs me is that when you give one story away, there is a certain element within the readership out there in cyberspace that think it's then okay for them to give any and all of a writer's work away - like to pirate sites. 

I know most folks are completely honest and to them I do apologize. It is a case of a few bad apples ruining what is generally considered appropriate for an author to do. So I guess until technology improves or cyberspace pirates see the light of truth and honesty, I'll be a blogger. 

_*_*_*_*_*_*_

 KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/the-bookshelf-of-kc-kendricks-and-rayne.html

Social media links:

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

twitter.com/kckendricks

pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards

instagram.com/kc_kendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Deuce of Diamonds on the first My Sexy Saturday of February 2014

February 1, 2014

**updated 4/2/21 - the My Sexy Saturday blog hop is no longer operating**

Welcome to February! If I seem delighted the deep freeze of January is over it's because I am!! We had some nasty cold nights. When my cat sleeps under the covers, you know it's cold.

For this My Sexy Saturday I've selected seven sexy paragraphs from Deuce of Diamonds, the sequel to Double Deuce. I got a lot of gasps! at the end of Double Deuce when Rick left Ian but if you read closely the clues that Rick won't be gone for long are there. Rick needed closure on his situation, and Ian needed time to get his feet back under him. A third installment of Ian and Rick's story is in the works even now. If you've read both Double Deuce and Deuce of Diamonds, I'll give you a tiny teaser - Saylor figures into this story, too. 

So without more rambling, here are seven sexy paragraphs for My Sexy Saturday.

*_*_*_*_*

The last night he’d spent here, the one before his job in Amethyst Cove was wrapped up, we’d gone to bed and stared at the ceiling. Lying side by side in the dark, we’d not shared our thoughts. I’d regretted not making love one last time even though I knew he’d made a decision to try to patch it up with his ex again. 

Our last kiss had been bittersweet, full of regret and mourning for what would never be. Now it might be if we were both brave enough to reach for it. 

Was I? I turned my head and found his lips. 

His lips were fever hot but soft and willing. He held me tighter as my mouth slid over his to taste longing mixed with hesitation. I licked his lips with a slow, deliberate swipe of my tongue and he let me in. Rick’s tongue moved over mine, silky smooth, and the need to have him burst free in my groin. My balls tightened as my cock swelled. I pushed him against the counter and ground my pelvis to his. 

Rick’s big hands cupped my ass and held me tight to him, never breaking the kiss. He was equally hard, the firm ridge of his dick bumping and grinding against mine as we mock fucked. Rumbling sounds vibrated through his chest and into mine as the kiss deepened. I needed to breathe but I’d sooner pass out from lack of oxygen than give up his lips. 

There were so many things I wanted to say to him but none of them mattered. I needed him as much as he did me. The things that we had to say, and they were many, would have to wait until we healed the distance of the last few months. 

His lips burned a path down my neck and back to my ear. “Ian. Dear God, I’ve dreamed of you. Been haunted by you.”

_*_*_*_*_

DEUCE OF DIAMONDS
available now at 
Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Kobo

 KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/the-bookshelf-of-kc-kendricks-and-rayne.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards

instagram.com/kc_kendricks

My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Life through the eyes of Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

I feel so techie!

January 30, 2014

Well pat myself on the back! 

Like a lot of writers I use a voice recognition program from time-to-time. It has its drawbacks as well as its pluses and the main thing I've never liked about it is the uncomfortable headset. Having my head squeezed so tightly to where I get a headache isn't conducive to producing quality work. (Nor is feeling like your brains are going to be squeezed out of an orifice, that's how tight the headset is.)

Somewhere along the line in my constant Internet browsing and reading to educate myself, I learned that I could possibly connect my Bluetooth earpiece to my computer and use it with the voice recognition. 

Really? It was a revelation that for a measly $20 I could get an adapter and do away with the headset. Saturday, when the spousal unit and I were in town for dinner, we stopped at the local electronics store (you know the one with the big blue and yellow sign) and got an adapter. In due course I settled down at the computer, loaded the software, and read the instructions on getting the new toy tool up and running. 

It was actually easier than what was described on several tech sites. 

1) Set the Bluetooth into discovery mode, which for my type was nothing more than holding a button down until it blinked red/blue at me
2) Click on the icon that popped up to accept the connection
3) Open the voice recognition software and hit the hot key to activate
4) Start talking.

Yippee ki ay!  

KC Kendricks
http://www.kckendricks.com
www.facebook.com/kckendricks

The Lady in Red

January 28, 2014

I'll confess to be a bit of a Duchess of Cambridge watcher. It's her shoes, okay? I'm not thirty-something and I have a drudge of an office job. Evening gowns have no place in my wardrobe. But shoes? Oh, baby, I can do shoes. 

So being in the market for a good pair of boots - who ISN'T in the market for good boots? I don't need to explain good boots to anyone. I'll move on.

I googled "Kate Middleton boots" to refresh my memory about a pair of black suede knee boots I remembered had something sort of cool going on with the zippers. This photo popped up and I about choked on my coffee. 

If ever a photo captured a woman, this is the one. Striding confidently with her lover and flashing a big smile. 

Yep. She'll do. 

Great boots, too.

KC Kendricks
http://www.kckendricks.com
www.twitter.com/kckendricks

2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge

April 2014

I dare you.

http://tossingitout.blogspot.com

Leather Jackets for a cold My Sexy Saturday morning

January 25, 2014

**Updated 4/2/21 - the My Sexy Saturday blog hop has been discontinued.**

It's another My Sexy Saturday and this week I have seven sexy paragraphs from Leather Jackets. I chose Leather Jackets because I wore mine one day this past week and about froze my a$$ off. For the record, I'm done with this winter stuff. Enough, already!

So let's warm up a bit with Wynn and Jude.

*_*_*_*_*

LEATHER JACKETS 
Book six of the Men of Marionville series
Contemporary gay romance available now 
Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and other online book sellers. 


“Maybe, Wynn, but perhaps not. You had things you had to do. I had things I wanted to do.”


“Having you with me would have made it all sweeter.” He lowered his mouth to mine.

I was startled by the gentle poignancy of his kiss. For a split second, he laid himself bare for me, then I opened my lips and invited him in. The change in him was swift. A deep groan rumbled in his chest. His pelvis flexed to mine. My balls drew up as my cock swelled, eager for his touch, for the wet swipe of his tongue.

Wynn’s lips trailed fire down my neck and along my jaw line. My heart pounded as the skin on my back and buttocks prickled. Deep inside, small muscles twitched with anticipation of something I couldn’t be sure would happen. I hooked my foot around the back of his knees and rolled us against the other seat. We ended up on our sides facing each other.

“Damn, it’s tight quarters in here.”

Wynn’s big hand clamped onto my ass and squeezed. “We had to promise no sex in the limo to keep our driver happy. But he turns a blind eye to the occasional little grope-and-pant session.” His cool hand dipped under the waistband of my pants and his long fingers wrapped around my hard shaft and moved in short strokes. I rested my forehead to his.

“Oh, God. Every time I jerk off, I think of your hand.” I cupped his balls through his slacks.

_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_

 KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/the-bookshelf-of-kc-kendricks-and-rayne.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards

instagram.com/kc_kendricks

My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Life through the eyes of Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

Deja vu strikes

January 22, 2014

All you retailers out there, read up. Us middle-age folks just don't understand all these new-fangled gizmos you're using. We've got money, honest we do. Let us select our purchases, put them into our basket, and continue shopping. We get a little testy when you treat us like criminals. We're hard-working-tax-paying-born-on-American-soil-go-to-church-meeting-law-abiding-baby-boomer-citizens. While we don't excuse our little laspes, such as leaving a mess of men's toiletries lying in the aisle, we are far from contrite. In fact, some of us will never be contrite again.

To what do I refer?

The spousal unit decided he needed a new electric shaver. No problem - or so you'd think. It turned out to be a big problem, same as the last time.

We hopped into his full-size Chevy Silverado pickup with an extended cab and honking big redneck tires able to plow through a foot of snow like it's confetti, and we did sally forth into the bitter cold night to the not-so-local pharmacy. It's about ten miles from our home to what passes for a town. And did I mention it was freakin' cold?

The spousal unit drives through the parking lot and not finding a reserved handicapped parking space (yes, he has HD license plates) he picked out a really tiny parking space in which to park his truck. (Please refer back to the line which describes said truck as a full size Chevy Silverado.) We slip and slide across a poorly plowed parking lot into the pharmacy and find the aisle with the electric shavers and that's when the trouble started. Again.

Yes, we've been down this particular ugly road before, about seven years ago, and with the same consequences. It was deja vu in a different store.

The security boxes will not, WILL NOT, come off the hook on which they attached. We looked for the security latch, but no luck. So my beloved gave the box a good yank. Giving the box a good yank had consequences. Remember Newton's Law that states for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Right. The box was attached to the metal pegboard-thingee which was attached to the shelf-unit-thingee which was not attached to the floor.

Also not attached to anything - men's deodorant, men's hair color, men's shampoo and, of course, condoms. At least nothing shattered into a million pieces upon landing on the floor. BUT the electric shaver came loose and we ran to the checkout as fast as we could knowing one true fact:

The only safe place for us is on our mountain.

We have no clue as to why electric shavers are hot contraband. I have no clue why we couldn't convince the clerk to help us, either. Apparently she couldn't lock the cash register and come help. The experience has left us a bit jaded and thinking maybe we need to reconsider big online retailers. And that's a shame because we think buying local is important and we endeavor to do so.

But I'm not sure we can go back to that pharmacy. Considering the mess we left in our wake, they might not allow us in the door....

KC Kendricks
http://www.kckendricks.com
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks

A dusting of snow

January 18, 2014

I missed signing up for today's My Sexy Saturday and the sky did fall - we got a dusting of snow in the overnight hours. My world looks white and clean this morning, but it won't last. The fine powder is already blowing off tree limbs and branches, and in a few hours will be gone. It was pretty to wake up to, though. 

It was a hectic week. Getting the new processor up and running has taken a lot longer than I thought. You see, the moment I mentioned I had purchased a new processor, my lovely stepdad had to rush out and get one, too. Guess who he called for help? 

Laughing at the man who takes care of your mother, and does it quite well, simply isn't very kind, but I couldn't help myself. I hope that doesn't make me too much of a bad person, but ....okay, I'm laughing again thinking about it so maybe I should move on. He's really a great guy and it's nice to be needed, isn't it? 

I'm not sure where the hours will lead me today. The dusting of snow tempts me toward the outdoors for a walk, but since my old dog's arthritic feet don't allow him to travel far, the lure of clean, crisp air is muted. I miss his presence on my walks but I can't bring myself to get a pup. How could I take off on a walk with a young dog knowing it would distress my poor old love to be left behind? I can't do that. So if I go for a solitary walk, I'll sneak out of the house while he's napping. 

The fact that part of my day will be spent working on a story goes without saying. I'm down to the very last pages in Fallon and Sundown's latest adventure. A lot of truth about the Chal shapeshifters come to light in this story and it leaves Fallon wondering about his total involvement with his lover. Maybe not a happy thought, but certainly a natural progression to their story. 

With that said, it's time to get to it. The cup of coffee I made in our handy-dandy K-cup machine needs a trip to the nuker to be warmed. Being Saturday, I need to check for updates on all the electronic gizmos that crowd my life these days and then I need to get some writing done. 

Have a great Saturday! 

KC
www.kckendricks.com
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/kckendricks

Jett

A Hard Habit to Break for My Sexy Saturday (week 31)

January 11, 2014

**Updated 4/2/21 - the My Sexy Saturday blog hop has been discontinued.**

Baby, it's cold outside! So let's heat it up a bit for the first My Sexy Saturday of the New Year with a first kiss from A Hard Habit to Break, the first book in the Men of Marionville series.

(I had a little trouble getting the linky-list to show at the end of this post so click My Sexy Saturday to see this week's participants if it's not there.)

= = = = = = = = = =

Crap. He was sliding downhill fast. How much alcohol had he consumed before I arrived? I put my arms around him, drinking in the feel of his lean body against mine. He held me tightly, clinging like a man drowning. Maybe he was, and not from the booze.  “Let’s go to your place. We can stop and get some coffee on the way.”

His eyebrows shot upward. “No food or drink in my car, Heath Kelley, or have you forgotten?”

I’d never forget dumping soda all over the inside of his first car, and apparently neither would he. I licked my lips. “It was an accident. Besides, you were the one that hit the pothole and bounced me around.”

Before he could reply, I pulled his mouth to mine.

The touch shot through me. I meant to keep the kiss brief, even chaste, but Travis seized the advantage, his lips moved hungrily over mine. My mind whirled with memories of that long-ago kiss, which had been almost innocent, and his more recent words of denial. Heat swept through me, even as I tried to pull away. I couldn’t do this tonight, not when he might regret it once he sobered up.  I broke off the kiss so I could gather my wits. Travis grabbed me, his arms like steel bands around me.

“Don’t run, Heath. I’m sorry.”

I held him as tightly as he held me. "Don't be sorry, not for this C'mon. Let's get you home."

 
= = = = = = = = =

For more information and a longer excerpt from A Hard Habit to Break, click here.


KC Kendricks

Website: http://www.kckendricks.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks

Blog: http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kckendricks

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kckendricks

What's ahead for 2014? Wouldn't it be nice to know?

January 8, 2014

What AM I going to do in 2014? 

I did a 2013 year in review blog so it stands to reason I should follow it up with the prerequisite speculation into 2014. The only problem with that is.... well, hell. It's Wednesday. My desk has neat little piles of crap...um...work.. all over it, and I can't think past the fact the copier sounds like it's about to croak. I sure picked a bad time to thing about blogging. But perhaps I digress.

I'm stepping into 2014 with a new processor, which should be interesting. I haven't gotten a new machine in quite a few years and so have skipped over a few operating systems. I suspect I'll be purchasing new software, too. Will it help me write faster? I doubt it since I'll still have my same trusty wireless keyboard that sometimes forgets to register keystrokes. (I mention that in case my editor reads this and starts to get excited about maybe finding an "s" everywhere one is supposed to be. Not gonna happen, I'm afraid. I know myself and that keyboard too well.)

On the writing front, I find I'm not as far along as I'd hoped. I'm working hard on the next Sundown story and making lots of notes for the next Ian Coulter tale, a follow-up to Deuce of Diamonds. Yes, there is some big, let's say BIG news on the horizon, but until the digital ink is on the digital page, I can't share. But you know me after all this time, I can, of course, give you a tease. 

The Men of Marionville will also be back in 2014 when a friend of Dylan's moves to town to join him in a business venture. After that, a shopkeeper hires a helper and sparks fly, and somewhere in this mix two guys in the same apartment building meet and find their careers, and lives, are about to intertwine.

So that's five books on top of family, friends, fun and a full-time job. AND let's not forget the 2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge in April. And since I'm stuck on the letter "f" I'll mention that I hope to do better on facebook now that I have a handle on Twitter.

It looks like 2014 is going to be a fantastic and fulfilling year. I hope you'll come along for the read. 

KC Kendricks
website
twitter
blog
facebook

It's a shopper beware world

January 6, 2014

Happy Epiphany! Today, in Christian circles, marks the arrival of the three wise kings to greet the newborn Jesus. A lot of folks leave their decorations up until today, but I jumped ship on that this year and took it all down on New Year's Day. But I'm not blogging today to talk about camels. I wish I were. 

Today was not a good day and I feel compelled to tell my story as a warning to others. 

I visited a warehouse "Club" today to get a few things. At the checkout, I handed the cashier my club card and my check. Her cellphone was lying beside her drawer. As she processed my check, she lifted her cell phone in a what I thought was a strange manner and slipped it into her pocket. 

I immediately confronted her, point blank. "Did you take a picture of my check and card with your phone?" 

She replied she did not - what else would she say? I was not reassured and went to the membership desk and asked to see a supervisor. I told him what had happened and he confirmed the cashiers are not allowed to have their cell phones out of their pockets while at the register. I asked them to issue me a new account number on the spot, and they did. 

More worrisome was that she might have gotten my checking account number. 

I went to my bank, had a very enlightening chat about my legal options with bank personnel, and transferred all but the minimal amount to cover the check I'd just written to another account. The bank will assist me in watching to see if anyone attempts to access my checking account.  

Suffice it to say, I'm concerned. 

The management of the big "- Club" pulled the cashier off her station immediately. I hope they insisted on seeing her phone. (Actually, bitchy as it is of me, I hope they fired her to protect themselves. She broke a rule of employment to their detriment and an unhappy customer is blogging about it. They can't view the end result as good promo.) 

I would hope the cashier is smart enough to know I have her name should I suddenly begin to have identity theft problems. Heck, I have a cell phone of my own. I might even have a picture of her stored away for a lawsuit should "problems" arise within my financial empire. I think I'll snap a photo of everyone who is about to handle anything that touches my finances. 

Will I shop at that "Club" again? Not for a long time. Maybe never again. Right now I'm leaning toward the never again, but I might work past it. I'll see how I feel when my annual membership fee is assessed. 

This all happened in the blink of an eye. Had I not been paying attention, she'd have gotten away with it, if in fact she did snap a photo of my information. 

I trusted my instincts which say better safe than sorry. This is the first time I've experienced this and it will change the way I shop. I don't know what has happened to the world in the last few years. Five years ago, I don't think it would have happened. 

If you work as a cashier and your employer says no phones at the register, please remember this rule of employment can also protect you. 

When you shop, be alert. Trust your instincts. Don't be afraid to inform management if you suspect a problem. You may save more people than yourself - even your grandmother. 

KC Kendricks