Looking Out The Window: The Inspiration For Hair Calamities and Hot Cash, a TopShelf 2020 Book Awards Nominee

I've been excited about Hair Calamities and Hot Cash since the day I planned to write it. It's inspired by my mother's beauty shop, set in the awe-inspiring North Carolina Mountains. Mother's shop was at the foothills of these magnificent peaks, but I placed the fictitious shop, Eve's Clips, at a higher elevation to allow for the breathtaking scenery.

Yet, it was the atmosphere my mother created and the people who frequented the shop that motivated me to write about them. Getting a "do" at her salon served as a social gathering as well as a service. Customers who knew each other discussed how to make the latest recipe, what to do about world affairs and everything in between, including family relations, births, deaths and weddings. Clients planned showers, graduation parties and get-togethers for new neighbors while hair flew.

Mostly townspeople showed up, and the spirit of the community overflowed. The residents had close friends, acquaintances, people they tolerated and those they kept at a distance. As in most small environments, they gossiped and could be nosey. However, when someone grieved for a loved one, suffered from an illness or any other crisis, prayers went up and casseroles went out no matter whether the person was a best friend or someone held at a distance. They all were God’s children.

The walls of Mother’s beauty shop echoed the spirit of the community, and I wanted to bring it back. That's why I'm even more thrilled and humbled to have Hair Calamities and Hot Cash nominated for the TopShelf 2020 Book Awards.

About Hair Calamities and Hot Cash, a romantic comedy with mystery

“A comedic romp from small town to big city in search of missing money, hair catastrophes, and love. A truly fun read”—Cynthia Hickey, author of the Shady Acres Mystery series.

What happens when a New York stockbroker crashes his car into Eve Castleberry’s North Carolina beauty shop...on the same day the young widow’s defective hair products are causing wild hairdos? Soon Eve finds herself helping the handsome stranger hunt the thieves who stole his client’s cash...and hot on the trail of two of the F.B.I.’s most-wanted criminals! Romance blossoms amid danger, suspense and Eve’s hair-brained plan to get back the money.

Sharing Two Reviews

A Five-Star Amazon Review

Things aren’t going right for the widow, Eve. Her hair products are faulty, and her clients are getting some quirky hair-doo results. What else can go wrong? Well, how about a broker, named Phillip, from the Big Apple, smashing his vehicle right into her salon? After the initial shock, Eve regains her composer and offers him coffee. Phillip obligingly aids her in swabbing up an overspill of soapsuds. Who would think love would be the verdict of this ‘hairy’ chain of events? The two pull together to find a missing large sum of money, as well as why Eve got botched hair products to begin with. Comical chaos flows effortlessly in this starry-eyed, humorous tale of misfortune surprisingly turning to serendipity. ‘Hair Calamities and Hot Cash’ is a fresh, cozy, romantic mystery by Gail Pallotta...every bit brilliant and complete with charm, excitement and wit. RJS

A Five-Bone Review from Spatzle Speaks

(Spatzle, a cute, fluffy white dog, resides on the review site of Susan Baganz)

My mom adores alliteration so the title of this book tickles her fancy no end. Hair Calamities and Hot Cash is...full of adventure, comedy and suspense. Poor Eve Castleberry runs a North Carolina beauty shop. For some reason, this widow is finding her hair products are not doing what they are supposed to do with strange results. To top it off a New York stockbroker crashes his car into her salon and he’s on the hunt for criminals wanted by the FBI whole stole his client’s cash. Merry mayhem ensues and this is one delightful romantic comedy as the two work together to get the money and solve the riddle of what’s going wrong at her store.

Writing witty comedy is an art and Gail Pallotta has it mastered in this novel. No cats or dogs but any book that makes my mom giggle is worthy of five bones! Spatzle

The book is available on Amazon

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Do you have fond memories of a particular beauty shop? If so, please share below.

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