#ProjectPurseDump - Week 8 - Cherry Tucker's Artsy Purse, according to Larissa Reinhart (@RisWrites) - #WritersLife

This might be the first time we're getting a closer look at a fictional character's purse. From the looks of it, Cherry Tucker is the artsy type. Let's find out what she has squirreled away!

---

First off, I don’t carry a purse. I’ve got too much to haul around and generally if I’m not at an art gig, I carry beer money in my pocket, which is all I really need. I know I live in Georgia and most girls add a touch of lipstick before heading to the Piggly Wiggly or the Tru-Buy, but I’m not most girls. I might have a few smudges of oil or acrylics on my person anyway, so why dress that up with lipstick?

My name is Cherry Tucker and I live in Halo, Georgia. I like to think of myself as ten times tougher than I look. My height, blonde hair, and cornflower blue eyes don’t help me none. I’m a portrait artist, so where I’m not paying attention to how I look (except for my clothes, I do love to create my own outfits), I am paying attention to how you look. For example, what color would I mix to capture your eyes or what the contrast of light is doing to the angles of your cheekbones. And if you’re a guy, I’ll check out your muscle definition, if you have any. Purely for professional reasons, of course.

That’s why you can see I always carry a sketch book and pencils. And brushes. Sometimes paint, but generally I keep that in my tackle box. Measuring tape’s always handy. Duct tape, too. I’ve been hog tied and duct taped (don’t ask), so I like to carry my own. And they’ve got some colorful ones, now.

Band Aids and Motrin. More necessities of my lifestyle. Particularly if you do get hog tied and duct taped.

And if I do need to clean up, I’m ready with the lipstick and some jewelry. I’ve got a bullet ring and pistol earrings that are good for any occasion. Nail polish comes in handy for all sorts of things. For example, if you drive a rusty, old truck, when you see a new spot, just dab it with some polish. Works wonders for holding the truck together and you can fix your nails real quick, too.

Thanks for your interest! This was a great chance to clean out my bag. I found a lot of empty shot gun shells. Don’t know why I’ve been carrying them around, but now I’m thinking they could make Christmas ornaments.

About Larissa Reinhart

A 2015 Georgia Author of the Year Best Mystery finalist, Larissa writes the Cherry Tucker Mystery series. The first in the series, PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (2012), is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, 2012 The Emily finalist, and 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. The fifth mystery, THE BODY IN THE LANDSCAPE, releases December 2015. Her family and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit, now live in Nagoya, Japan, but still call Georgia home.

The fifth book in the Cherry Tucker Mystery series, The Body in the Landscape, is available for preorder now. You can find Cherry Tucker here: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, and anywhere else, if you just ask.

Ye Ol’ Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | GoodReads

#ProjectPurseDump - Week 7 - Author Kristi Rose (@KRoseWrites) is a Gal with a (Stun) Gun - #WritersLife #Romance

Today's purse might win the "Most Kick Ass" award, seeing as how it has a functioning weapon. Without further ado, I bring you the inside scoop on Kristi Rose's Purse. 

Before you read on, can you spot the weapon?
come on, it's right in front of you....
(No, I couldn't find it either. By the way, I have to respect a woman who packs tea. I totally need to steal that idea)

Hey y'all. It's my turn to share what I lug around in my giant purse. I don't always carry such a monstrosity but after I had kids the size of my purse grew exponentially and has stayed that way :-).

First, I have to share that I scored such a good deal on this purse, like 80% off, and my daughter found the matching wallet which cost me $10. So wow- that never happens to me. I've never even had a purse and wallet that match so I feel like a girl who is definitely wearing her big girl panties.

Ok, let's get to it. Starting at the top and going clockwise this is what you're looking at.

1. Giant pink folder is my passion planner. I know. I know. We have smart phones but it's just not the same as writing down everything in the moment. My passion planner tells me what to do and when to do it. For all things work, child and writing. Sometimes, I swap this out for my laptop. I never carry both or my purse would weight 10 pounds.
2. Slim black case is my stun gun. Yep, I carry a stun gun. Sometimes two. And I'm not afraid to use it. Veronica Mars is my idol.
3. Brown case with rubber band is a wallet of sorts. I'm a couponer and this keeps me organized for that. I once bought a year's worth of toiletries including razors for $34.28. No lie.
4. Matching wallet! Holla!
5. Gum- never leave home without out it. Yes, I chew it obnoxiously. Sorry.
6. Pens and pencils.
7. Chick-fil-a card to get a discount. Cuz I eats there a lot :-) (she says with an accent)
8. My author postcards and business cards but the truth is I'm always nervous about handing them out.
9. Packet of tea and honey sticks. I probably drink 4-5 cups of tea a day. Hot and cold. 

CENTER MASS

1. Ear buds
2. Lipstick. I usually carry more but my purse tipped in my car so the rest are rolling around on the passenger seat floorboard. I only grabbed up my favorites.
3. Motrin, hand sanitizer, and lotion that smells like yummy cake.

That's it. That's me in a nut shell. Oh, Yes, I carry feminine products. I see here that I have forgot to reload on those. Whoops.

Thanks Tracey and Jessica for letting me be a part of this. I love having this insiders look at everyone's purse :-).

About Kristi Rose

Kristi Rose was raised in central Florida on boiled peanuts and iced tea. She’s been lucky enough to travel the world but now, a wife and mother, she's resigned to traveling to the grocery store. No matter where she is, she enjoys watching people and wondering about their story. That’s what Kristi likes to write. Stories about everyday people, the love that brings them together, and their journey getting there. Kristi is a member of RWA. Romance Writer's Weekly and The KickAss Chicks

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Pinterest | Google+ | KickAssChicks | RWW

#ProjectPurseDump - Week 6 - Getting Purse-onal by Katherine McIntyre (@PixieRants) - #WritersLife

Today, multi-talented geek girl and romance author Katherine McIntyre takes center stage. Since her hobbies range from soap making to roasting coffee, I can't help but suspect her purse resembles the Tardis–bigger on the inside than out. I guess we shall see....

When offered the chance to get purse-onal, I jumped on it. (Grin and bear it, I love my puns!) I have to admit though, it wasn’t until I spilled the contents out on the floor for the picture that I realized what a wonderful metaphor it was for myself. For any purse carrier, what you choose to put in that small space is a reflection of you, in some shape or form. After all, anyone with a heavy purse knows the burden of the beast weighing down your shoulders.

Without further ado, here’s mine and the contents:

First, note the ratty canvas bag that I’ve had for a couple years now. It’s frayed and covered in a splatter of fake zombie blood that just won’t come out. In case you hadn’t gathered, I’m quite a tomboy, and perfectly content toting around a functional bag I got for fifteen bucks at Big Lots. Although, I may need a new one soon as the bottom’s getting pretty worn.

Obviously, my wallet and keys are the essentials. To be noted, that Gamecube lanyard was given to me by one of my first boyfriends, well over ten years ago. Yep, since the time of Nintendo Gamecube. Hey, if it’s not broke, I don’t need to fix it. When I was a teenager, I used to wear boy pants and would always lose my keys from the pockets, hence the lanyard received. Same with my wallet—it was a hand-me-down from someone. I’m the queen of Goodwill and hand-me-downs.

Next in the queue of importance: my notebook, my planner, and my Kindle. Let’s be honest folks, a Kindle is a book nerd’s best friend, and the second I’m waiting somewhere or have a break at work, you can bet I’m tearing through another book. And the notebook is an author’s best friend. Likewise, if I’ve got time and a scene sneaks up on me, I’ll start jotting things down. As for the planner, I’m a Leslie Knope planning queen, even though I’ve got the memory of a goldfish—so the planner’s essential.

Now to tackle my weird nitty gritties. On the right hand side, I have a thumb drive loaded with pictures of our recent trip to Canada—my husband and I brought it with when we went to visit my folks. As for the little white square next to it, that’s my Square Reader that I take to events with me. Though, I have a couple floating around.

Next to those? The business cards are for my massage business—a massage therapist has to always be prepared. Underneath the cards is a sample of ginger from a different vendor than I normally use for tea. I’ve been meaning to take it out of my purse for awhile now, but it got sucked into the vortex. And of course, a pad—I mean, what lady doesn’t have some sort of pad or tampon in her purse? As for the pens, self explanatory due to the notebook. On top of that is my little name tag for work—if you squint and see the LMT, it stands for Licensed Massage Therapist.

But the oddities aren’t over! I’ve got a rock in the bottom of my purse, and for the life of me, I can’t figure out where it’s from. When I was a kid I had a huge rock collection and when I see cool ones or ones from important places, I like to pick them up…however, that’s useless if I can’t remember where it was from. (See, goldfish memory.) And bobby pins, which I just discovered how to use a year or two ago. Quit those appalled looks, I’m terrible at traditional ‘girl’ things. A hair tie is important, because when I give up on my half-assed effort at styling, I usually just throw it back into a ponytail. And the coin floating around is one from Canada, now useless to me here!

Finally, we’ve spotted something girly in my bag—makeup! But as with everything, for me it’s the bare essentials. I’ve got two chapsticks, an awesome lipstain that for as inexpensive it was works so wonderfully, and a dark brown eyeshadow crayon that I use to give my eyelids some contour. When I put on makeup for work it’s….either the lipstain or the eyeshadow. I don’t usually do both, because as we’ve stated before, I suck at dolling myself up on a day to day basis. Doesn’t mean I can’t commit for weddings or parties and whatnot, but on an average day, I’d rather spend the extra time reading or writing.

As for the contents of my purse, that’s all folks! But the fun doesn’t stop here—a bunch of fantastic blogs are participating every Friday, so keep tabs on #PurseDumpProject, and tag your own photos!

About Katherine McIntyre

A modern day Renaissance-woman, Katherine McIntyre has learned soapmaking, beer brewing, tea blending, and most recently roasting coffee. Most of which make sure she’s hydrated and bathed while she spends the rest of her time writing. With a desire to travel and more imagination than she knows what to do with, all the stories jumping around in her head led to the logical route of jotting them down on paper. Not only can her poetry and prose be found in different magazines, but she’s had an array of novels and novellas published through Decadent Publishing, Boroughs Publishing, Hazardous Press, and Jupiter Gardens Press. For more casual content, she’s a regular contributor on CaffeineCrew.com, a geek news website.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | AmazonAuthor | GoodReads | Tumblr | Pinterest