They just don't make things how they used to....

Yeah...I sound completely ancient. That sounds like something someone way older than me should say. But I guess the older I get, the more those sayings make sense. I've even found myself shaking my head and thinking "Kids these days..." But I didn't actually say that one out loud!

Anyway, today I'm complaining about cars and anything in general. I remember when we bought our first house 13 years ago. The previous owners, the only ones who had ever lived in the house, left the appliances. It was great for us...we didn't have to buy anything. The things were old, but still worked perfectly. The fridge was already like 10-12 years old, same with the stove. The washer and dryer were seriously older than I was...which was 21 at the time. When we moved 9 years later, the stove and fridge were still working fine. The washer and dryer we did replace a few years before that...but I think the washer still worked...we just decided to replace the pair.

And cars....in 1996 my Hubby (fiance at the time) bought a 1987 Nissan Maxima with 120,000 miles on it We drove that baby another 70,000 miles before trading it in. Yes...we got 190,000 miles out of it.

We bought a new fridge when we moved and only four years later, it already doesn't work right. And our car....not even 10 years old and it's done....less miles than the Maxima when we bought it!

I can't be the only one who is so so sick of buying things that just don't last!

Brand Loyalty

Back in 1996, my boyfriend (now hubby) needed a new car. A friend of his dad's was a service manager at a local Nissan dealer. So he checked out what they had on their used car lot. We knew we could trust whatever he said. Hubby found a 1987 fully loaded Maxima. It had 120,000 miles, but it was a good price and his dad's friend had given it his seal of approval.

We've been loyal Nissan buyers ever since. That first Maxima we had was awesome. We drove it 70,000 miles over the next three years. (Hubby was downstate for a while for work and traveled 750 miles round trip most weekends to come home.) It became my car and hubby bought a small Nissan pick up truck.

Since 1996 we have owned an 87 Maxima, 97, 99, and 02 Altimas, an 88 truck, an 07 Quest and a 2010 Rogue. We still have the 02 Altima and the Rogue.

My point is, we've found a brand we know and trust. We don't need to do research on vehicles...we know we will love whatever Nissan comes out.

When it comes to writing, authors are kind of a brand. Most people I know, once they've found an author they love, they tend to stick with them and will buy their new releases without even knowing what they're about. I hope to find fans like that!!! I want my readers to trust me and trust in my work. I want them to expect great things from me and I never want them to be disappointed.

Now I know you can't please all the people all the time. I'm not looking for every reader on the planet to adore my every word. And I know I will have fans who will love some of my work more than others, but I do want that trust. I want readers to know that when they purchase my books, they won't be wasting money. I know some people will think that, regardless, but I hope to never disappoint my fans who have loved my work in the past.

And I want to give a huge THANK YOU to Laura from Chick Lit Love for bestowing this award on me!!


And here are some of my favorite new blogging friends:

The perverted minds of the ladies at Dirty Birdies!
Creepy Query Girl is so so hilarious!
Shannon Whitney Messenger...love her!
The cutest blogger on the planet! Teenage Bride
Awesome writer, awesome photographer! Heidi Willis