If Giovanni yells my name one more time I’m going to use this gun for something worse than gluing plastic beads onto fabric. It wouldn’t be such a big deal if he called me Poly like everybody else, but he has to use my full name: Polyester. Twice as confusing because we’re in the workroom of To The Nines, his dress shop, and nobody can tell if he’s calling for me or shouting about fabric. Last year for Christmas I gave him a T-shirt that said “I yell because I care” spelled out in sequins. He didn’t think it was nearly as funny as the seamstresses in the workroom did.
The only reason I’m gluing things onto fabric in the first place is because Giovanni bought fifty yards of stained magenta poly satin at a deep discount. The rest of us had voted for navy blue, but the magenta was 75% off because someone had spilled a pot of coffee on it. Enter my boss, the cheapest businessman on the planet, who told me to design a dress that would hide the stain. I’m the senior concept designer for To The Nines, and we sell inexpensive prom dresses and bright, disposable gowns for the pageant circuit.
Covering stained fabric with a handful of beads and a glue gun wasn’t what I had in mind when I graduated at FIDM—the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. It was a natural to attend the school since I was born in a fabric store (on a bed of polyester, which explains my name). My great aunt and uncle owned Land of a Thousand Fabrics, and the store was like my own special playground. Aunt Millie became my teacher, and, by the time I was five, I could identify most fabrics by touch. She also taught me about the glamour of the twenties and thirties by watching Mae West and Thin Man movies with me. I try to put a little bit of that glamour into the dresses I design, but the effect is lost on Giovanni who wants me to knock ‘em out fast and cheap. He likes to say when I have a shop of my own, I can waste as many yards of fabric on a single dress as I want. Maybe someday I will.
My boyfriend, Carson, calls this a dead end job, but says if I save up and invest wisely, I could go into business for myself. He’s an investment banker and has a plan for his future, a plan that includes me and marriage and a house and a retirement fund that he started contributing to when he was sixteen. He says I need to plan for our future too. I suppose he’s right, but I’m not ready to accept that this is my life. I keep thinking something big might be right around the corner.
Uh-oh. Giovanni just came out of his office and his face is almost as bright as this fabric. Looks like it’s going to be a long day…
You can read more about Polyester in Suede To Rest, the first book in the new “Material Witness” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on November 7 for the chance to win a copy of SUEDE TO REST + a fabric book cover that fits a mass market paperback. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Meet the author
After close to two decades working for a top luxury retailer, Diane Vallere traded fashion accessories for accessories to murder. SUEDE TO REST, the first in her new Material Witness Mystery Series, comes out November 4. In addition, she writes the Style & Error Mystery Series, featuring former fashion buyer Samantha Kidd, and the Mad for Mod Mystery Series, featuring Doris Day-loving interior decorator Madison Night. Diane started her own detective agency at age ten and has maintained a passion for shoes, clues, and clothes ever since. Find her at www.dianevallere.com.
I love the cover– and what a clever title!!
Loved the Mod Series. Looking foreword to this new one. Congrats
Sounds interesting and the book cover looks good.
Ohhhh sounds interesting I want to read this
would love to win thanks for having the giveaway
I’ve been looking forward to this series. Can’t wait to read this one!!
Sounds like fun!
Looks like a good book to me.
I’m looking forward to reading it. Great series title.–Maya
sounds great!
Sounds like a very good new series. Thank you for the giveaway!
I can’t wait to read this book! I love the anticipation of the first book of a new series!!
Would love to win this book. Love to read new series.
Fun series, hope to get a chance to read it, thank you!
jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds like the beginning of a great series.
Looks like this is a fun read. Anyone with the name polyester has to be funny.
This should be a fun read. Love books with crafts in the story.
Thanks Dru and Poly/Diane! I’m sure this w/b a wonderful new series! Plus, I’ve read the kittens names are Pins and Needles…how cute!
What a great combination–a story that sounds fascinating and a book cover! Perfect.
Thanks to everybody who is entering! Lots of luck to all!
I love the Mad for Mod series and this sounds like another great one. The title alone pulls me in!
This sounds like a fun read, thanks for the chance to win.
I would love to win this! It sounds like a book I would enjoy! Thank you!
Wonderful giveaway. Looks so special. Thanks.
Oh my gosh….I just love, love, love the adorable cover of this new book. I can tell just by that that this is going to be a really awesome book. I have not read any books by this author, but being a cat lover and see those two precious little kitties on the front cover of this book and reading the synopsis, I know without a doubt that I am going to love this book. Would love to win a copy. Can’t wait to read this!!!! Thank you for this chance! God Bless!!!
The author has a wonderful sense of humor and I know I’m gonna like Poly.
Would love to give this new series a try. Thanks for the chance to win.
This sounds like such a great book!
This sounds like a series I would like to try along with the book cover. Thank you for a chance to win a copy of Suede To Rest.
What a unique name for a person to have Polyester. I could just see my daughter if I had named her it. lol! Thanks for the review.
Sounds good. Today is launch day.
Congratulations on the launch. Can’t wait to meet Poly up close and personal!
Love the cover with the 2 cute kittens—it just screams cozy. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Would make a great addition to my TBR pile!
misstree1963@gmail.com
Sounds like a good read
Sounds like another great series. Bobbipad at gmail.com
Love the book cover. My Mom used to make those for us! Thank You for such good giveaways!!!
Catchy title and delicious cover! I like the sound of this book with a spunky heroine.
I attended Diane’s launch party this afternoon…saw you there too Dru…wasn’t it a bunch of fun?! I’d like to read this debut. As a quilt maker and sewer of other things made of fabric, the theme is just right! Thanks to you and Diane for a chance to win.
Love to read this!!
Sounds wonderful! Looking forward to reading it!
Suede to rest looks like a great read! Love the cover!
sounds like a great book. and a beautiful book cover too
Interesting concept. I appreciate the chance to win. 🙂
I’ve been looking forward to Suede to Rest coming out for months! It just sounded like such an interesting book. Would love to win it, and thank you so much for the chance to do so.
I want to read
Sounds interesting and a little different. I like the cats on the book cover. Nice book cover in the giveaway.
What a wonderful book and a pretty little book cover too! Very generous giveaway. Thank you.
The first line in this article had me laughing, I have felt like that before. Thanks for the chance to win a great book.
Thanks to everyone for the comments! Sandy, I’m glad you had fun at the Facebook party. Molly and I had a blast too! Good luck to all : )
Thanks for the chance to win!
I enjoyed Vallere’s Mad for Mod series, and am looking forward to this one! Thanks!
Would love to read! Thanks for the giveaway.
Need to read….
On my must read list! Accumulating books to take on our vacation.
I LOVE COZIES!!!!!!!!
Can’t wait to read this one.
Hoping to get my name in for this book before the giveaway expires. I would love to receive this book; have heard it is really great.
giveaway is closed.