As we prepare for the release celebration of BeJeweled: The Flight of an Angel, we are going to speak to one of the workers in the salon who has an up close and personal view of all the drama. Being behind the scenes sometimes has its advantages...you can see the mud being slung without getting dirty.
ME: Hello, Rory Mayfield and welcome to my blog Writing My Dreams.
RORY: Hey, Chelle. Thanks for inviting me to stop by today.
ME: It's my pleasure. So I understand there's a lot going on at the shop these days. Can you tell us a little about yourself and the role you play in The House of BeJeweled salon?
RORY: Sure! Let's see where do I start? Wellll, I've been told that I'm a bit bossy and conceited. The bossy part comes from being the baby in the family. Everyone has always let me have my way. But I don't take it for granted though, cuz I'm all about my family. The conceited part...well I'm not conceited. I'm just a lady who's sure of herself. I call it confidence. I'm beautiful, sexy, and fine. And I'm not ashamed of it. I'm a nail tech at BeJeweled and I have been for the last three years. My twin sister Roxy and me first came on right out of Cosmetology school. It was our first job since moving here from Brooklyn. Ms. O visited the school and gave a speech about the perks of the business. Me and Rox had some questions afterwards, she left us her card and bam! Here I am. Well temporarily anyway, because right now my sight is set on becoming an event planner.
ME: So you enjoy the hustle and bustle of a busy social life and planning things for others?
RORY: Yep! If I'm not at BeJeweled, I can be found at any of the hopping clubs Screwdrivers, Orange Tassles, Stax, 21 Breeze, Club Max...you feel me? But I also enjoy hosting baby showers, wedding showers, bachelorette parties and that type of thing for my girls. I've helped plan a couple of weddings. So I love working with people and making their dreams come true.
ME: Ohhh, I see why you're such a fit at BeJeweled now. Ms. Olivia is all about inspiring people and helping make their dreams come true. Therefore, your desire for life aligns with her mission statement and perspective.
RORY: Exactly! Ms. O's like that. She's always investing time in other people helping them get to where they wanna be. She looks at us like we're her family, because we're all she's got.
ME: Right. When her mother passed and she moved past that difficult time in her life, she made you all and the shop the center of her world.
RORY: Yeah. But we all really want her to get a life of her own. I mean not that I'm saying we trying to get rid of her or something. Cuz it's not like that. We love Ms. O. Bu we think she deserves to be happy like everyone else. She shouldn't have to come to work to get that fulfillment only. You know everybody should have something other than their work or business that brings them happiness and joy. She ain't got that.
ME: Oh yeah? What about her friend Raymond who's coming back to town?
RORY: I heard about him, but for real though I don't know what that means for Ms. O. He's married with two kids, you feel me? I know for a fact one time that his aunt Ms. Beatrice, told Ms. Darla that his wife can't stand Olivia. So if he's coming down here, I don't think it's anything permanent. Unless there's some drama with the Mizzus. One thing I do know...Ms. O don't do drama. So whatever he's got up his sleeve, she ain't gone have no parts of that. You feel me? But I ain't mad at either one of 'em. Ain't nobody got time to be sharing no man. Least I know I'm not that type of woman. I want all or nothing, just so you know.
ME: Speaking of your wants, a little birdie told me that you have an interest in Wesley. How true is that?
RORY: (laughs and twirls her spiral curls around her left index finger. Takes a moment and pops her strawberry scented bubble gum before answering my question). Look I don't know who yo' lil' birdie is, but they got ya girl all wrong. Like I said, I don't share no man. Don't get me wrong, Wes is fine and all...mmm mmm mmm, a brother know he fine! But I don't share men with nobody. Besides we been friends for five years. I can't see messing that up for a stab at love. Besides, he's my boy and we kick it all the time about lots of stuff. Every time peeps be trying to do that friends to lovers deal it don't work. And I can't see why I wanna trade in friendship with my boy for some game. Cuz that's all relationships are anyway...just a game. Ain't nobody keeping it real no mo'. Ain't nobody tryna be true.
ME: You said that you didn't want to share a man. And you referred to Wes in that sentence. Who is Wesley hooked up with?
RORY: Well you know he still be going in after his ex Debra. She still got his heart, I don't care what nobody else says. She might be married now, but that's where his heart at. Not to mention Ms. Senorita Mita! (she lets loose a hearty laugh and claps her hands together at her own joke).
ME: Who?
RORY: Come onnnn, Chelle. You know exactly who I'm talking about. I mean she's my girl, too. But there's something going on there that's not right. I don't care what she's going through or what nobody says...she has her eye on him. And whatever he does or doesn't do, I don't wanna get caught up.
ME: Yes, let's not travel down that road. Can you tell us what part you play in the first book?
RORY: Realistically I'm in the background. Everyone is trying to get their life in order and I can sit back and see what they need to do, but at the end of the day they gotta do it. No matter how much someody tell 'em what needs to be done, it ain't gonna help if they don't wanna put the work in.
ME: Well there appears to be one time where you get heated about Wes' lack of attention towards you. What happened there?
RORY: You talking about that break room mess? Look all that didn't even happen. Let's just leave it alone, because everybody tryna put hot sauce on it and it wasn't all that. Wes is my boy, he has been for five years and we gone leave that right dere. You feel me? (she lifts her eyebrows to express her point).
ME: I feel you, Ro. What's going on with your co-worker, Angel?
RORY: You gotta ask Angel about Angel, cuz Ro can't tell you 'bout nobody but her. I will say she has a lot of drama kicked off in this book. She's got choices she has to make and at the end of the day they her choices. I don't know how things are gonna play out for her, she has a heavy bag to carry but it's hers, sooo...
ME: Do you feel like there was anything that you or the others could have done to help her before the road trip took place and after the situation broke out at the staff meeting?
RORY: Uh uh. Because people gotta be ready to deal with their own drama. She don't see what's in front of her face cuz she don't wanna see it. All I can say is I hate it went down the way it did. She just gone have to chalk this one up as a lesson learned. I hope the girl gets her life.
ME: So do I, Rory. So do I. Well with Ms. O's prayers and interventions it has to turn out for good. Wouldn't you agree?
RORY: I guess. I mean if that's your kinda thang. I don't get into all that religion type stuff. Ain't got no time for nobody to be preaching to me. That's why I handles mine so I ain't got to hear Ms. O quotin' no scriptures at me, praying with me, or guiding me. You know what...let me change that up because somebody always taking a word out of context. Especially y'all writer types. Next thing I know it'll be in the magazines or tabloids talking about her staff can't stand her. What I'm trying to say is I'm not the religious type. If it works for Ms. O, great, but I don't want to go through all she be going through cuz I don't see where it works. Besides, my life is working out just fine.
ME: Well alright Ro. Once again thanks for coming to visit us and giving us the latest scoop on the happenings at the shop. I wish you all the best at BeJeweled and in your upcoming event planning career. I believe with your tenacity and forthright personality you will be wildly successful!
RORY: Thanks, Chelle. I appreciate that. Y'all writer types really do have a way with words. And I wish you the best too with your new book and this whole series.
ME: Thanks, Ro. That means a lot coming from you.
RORY: You're welcome. And peeps y'all need to go get her book. I mean I be feeling my way about some things, but she's bad when it comes to that keyboard and imagination. Your latest book will be out this coming Saturday, right?
ME: Yes.
RORY: Yeah. Y'all skip right on over there to Amazon and get her book this Saturday. She's got 'em in paperback and eBook. Oh yeah she supposed to be having a party on Facebook y'all don't wanna miss. She's giving away a $25 Amazon gift card, books by other authors, and a beautiful poncho by her girl, Sonya, The Poncho Girl.
ME: Wow, Ro! I didn't know you had been paying attention like that.
RORY: Uh huh. I pay more attention than you know. I'm always observing. But anyway I had to put you on blast, cuz you put everyone else out there but you. (Laughs out loud). Gotta learn to speak up about your gifts and talents, and work your stuff girl. Seriously though people, go check out Chelle Ramsey at amazon.com. And sign up to join her party on FB this Saturday.
ME: (I can't help but laugh, she's such a clown). Thanks again, Ro. And thanks for visiting us today.
RORY: Girl it's what I do. But I'ma get up off this couch right now and head on downtown to the shop. I gotta few appointments lined up today, with Easter Sunday this weekend and all. So it's been real, but I gots to go. Ya'll have a Happy Easter.
ME: You have a Happy Resurrection Sunday, too, Ro.
RORY: There y'all religious types go again. Anyway, I'll holla. I'm out.
Thanks for tuning in to another wonderful Writer Wednesday with me and Rory Mayfield from The House of BeJeweled Salon, located in downtown Atlanta, GA.
TO READ AN EXCERPT CLICK HERE: BEJEWELED
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO JOIN THE RELEASE CELEBRATION & FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN BOOKS FROM THE FOLLOWING AUTHORS:
ADRIENNE THOMPSON
BARBARA JO WILLIAMS
CATHY JO
CHARMAINE GALLOWAY
CHELLE RAMSEY
CHICKI BROWN
EBONY NICOLE SMITH
INEZ REILLY
M.J. KANE
PAMELA KAY NOBLE BROWN
RHONDA MCKNIGHT
TE` RUSS
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Writing My Dreams
by: Chelle Ramsey
