Below you'll find a few fun facts and insights about the novelette - NACHOS. 

YOU MUST READ #6.
IF YOU ONLY READ ONE OF THESE, READ #6!

1. NACHOS has a secret fart scene (the chapter after this one).
The Three Tiaras and Banana Fondler are technically in another scene. Unfortunately, it had to be cut due to the 9,000 word limit for target 's #OnceUponNOW contest. At first I was a little sad about cutting this heinous bit of detail from the story (the act of farting is a stamp of pride in my dysfunctional family). But after all was said and done, I think deleting the fart scene ultimately improved the flow of the story. I suppose Serenmother had my back on this one. 

To read this lost scene, be sure to follow me on Wattpad (that's the only way PRIVATE CHAPTERS can be viewed). If you also need a link to the chapter, but sure to message me.

Sadly, private chapters are only for Wattpad's 18+ audience (Wattpad's rules, not mine). 

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2. Most of the NACHOS story comes from the first chapter of a book called Nine Live of Nicole Candy (now titled Fancy Lady). 
Like an insane person, one day I got a wild hair up my ass and decided that writing a ten book series where the lives of 9 different characters overlap in each book sounded like a great idea. [sigh]

In any case, although the first chapter was funny... it didn't explain to readers what the Nicole Candy Series (now titled Fancy Lady Series) was all about. In fact, the chapter completely confused readers. Instead of providing some clarity, it did the opposite. It seemed to falsely advertise what the premise of the series was about.

So I scrapped it.

However, a few of those "fortunate" enough to read some of my early writing attempts ( linahanson SallyMason1 shalonsims julietlyons ) were not happy I sent Banana Fondler and the Three Tiaras to the grave, so they suggested I turn that disastrous first chapter into a novelette. That's why I created NEW YEAR, NACHOS & BANANA FONDLING. 

When I read about Target's Modern Fairy Tale Contest (#OnceUponNOW), the story got another makeover and became - NACHOS. Although NYN&BF and NACHOS start out the same, they are VERY different stories. 

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3. I cried so many times while writing NACHOS. So. Much. Crying.
When you read NACHOS, you are getting a front row seat to the Marilyn Hepburn Healing Heart Show. In fact, your seats are so close to the stage, you can see my scabs and stitches between the words. I promise it's a happy and romantic story, but it could also be potentially therapeutic to readers suffering from a broken heart or fractured soul. Writing this story definitely put a big warm and fuzzy Band-aid on my insides. 

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4. Because of the story NACHOS, I adopted two cats from the Humane Society.
When Cyndi fell in love with the grey kitten, I fell in love with the grey kitten too. And when I fell in love with the fictional ball of fur, I needed a real one of my own. 

About 8 months before I started writing NACHOS, I had to put my fur baby to sleep. It was a cat I'd loved for over 15 years. She was there when I first moved out on my own. She was there when I got a divorce. And when I was so depressed I pushed family and friends out of my life, she was the only one still there to curl up with me as I cried. Needless to say, having to watch my sweet kitty take her last breath shattered my heart. When you don't have a family of your own, your pets are your children. 

Well, thanks to NACHOS, my iced heart defrosted and I was ready to make my house a home again. After writing the section where the kitten gets rescued in the street, I went to the Humane Society and rescued a 4 year old girl (Winnifred) and an 8 month old boy (Krueger). 

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5. Microwaved nachos. I literally ate a TON of microwaved nachos while writing NACHOS.
So. Much. Cheese. This was because I made several visits to the grocery store located in the local strip mall to get inspiration for my story. And while I was there... I got stuff for NACHOS. Life imitating art? Art imitating life? It's hard to tell with this one. In any case, my butt insists the next novelette is to be titled SPINACH or ICE CUBES. 

6. [Added on June 11, 2016] When life gets miraculous and imitates art.
Today I uploaded NACHOS for target's #OnceUponNow Modern Fairy Tale competition. And the strangest thing happened.

I didn't almost get flashed by an exhibitionist today, but there was a 3-Alarm fire in my condo building. It was a horrible situation. 

Instead of being in a horrible situation where I might meet a handsome police officer, I was in a horrible situation where I met several handsome firefighters (There were a TON called in to help from three different cities. Yes. The fire was THAT bad.). 

But it wasn't a firefighter that caught my eye...

[holds head in shame] Unfortunately I just know one of my neighbors. He's an elderly black man I absolutely adore. He's not "meddling" necessarily, but if you need to know anything about anyone in the condo complex-you just ask him. He knows what EVERYONE is up to. In any case, he introduced me to a neighbor (who's condo was burning up in flames) he referred to as his pseudo "white" son. 

I didn't meet a trench coat wearing man named Cooper Bradley, but I did meet a man that matched Cooper's EXACT description (strawberry blonde, crystal blue eyes, etc.). His body was a little slimmer than a DadBod, but close enough. In any case, his condo was on on the list of units being investigated for the source of the fire. 

I had never spoken to or even noticed this neighbor before, but for some strange reason he walked across the parking lot after we had been introduced and started a conversation with me (out of like 60 other people standing around). Me? I'm one of the neighbors he doesn't even know!

The man I met wasn't a veterinarian, but he was definitely an animal lover (he was heartbroken over the loss of his two kitties that perished in the fire). 

Instead of having a conversation about dead wives, we had a conversation about dead cats. This was apparently the second time he lots cats in a fire that wasn't his fault.

Cooper's lookalike had to leave suddenly because his family was waving him over to take him out to dinner, but he seemed to want to continue our conversation. 

And guess what I was wearing? An oversized WSU sweatshirt and pink polka dot pajama bottoms!!

Did this really just happen?

On the same day I uploaded NACHOS?

If this real life story continues to develop-there might be a whole new tale to write about!  

7. Marilyn Hepburn's Newsletter

Get on Marilyn's distribution list NOW. I promise I won't send a bunch of junk and will keep emails EXTREMELY limited. For more information, check out Marilyn Hepburn's Newsletter in the Fancy Social Media section of MarilynHepburn.com. 

Thank you!

Muah! 

8. NACHO TREATS FOR ALL!
Enjoy these amazing personalized treats by Wattpad's @MindyLeah. DO check out her CRAZY CAKES BAKE SHOP (located on her Wattpad profile). Mmmmm... yummy!