40 Ways to Enjoy a Southern Summer

 

1. Go hiking at a state park
2. Visit a real "u-pick-it" farm.
3. Take a dip in the creek.
4. Go star-gazing and learn new constellations.
5. Enjoy a tall glass of ice cold sweet tea.
6. Catch lightning bugs.
7. Wake up early and find unique treasures at a yard sale.
8. Relax in a rocking chair.
9. Enjoy a picnic in a beautiful park.
10. Relish the nectar from a honeysuckle.
11. Spend the day fishing.
12. Shop at your local farmer's market.
13. Visit your local library for summer reads.
14. Grow your own tomatos and peppers.
15. See a movie at a drive in theatre.
16. Learn to can your own vegetables.
17. Read poetry in a garden.
18. Pick blackberries.
19. Visit a new BBQ joint.
20. Feed the ducks at the local lake.
21. Take a road trip to see some waterfalls.
22. Fall in love with a new flavor at the ice-cream shop.
23. Make lemonade from scratch.
24. Visit Rock City.
25. Go to an outdoor concert.
26. Send real postcards during your travels.
27. Go canoeing or kayaking.
28. Declare water war with super soakers and water balloons.
29. Drink from the hose.
30. Tie-dye something.
31. Take photos in a photo booth.
32. Visits wine country for tours and tastings.
33. Spend an afternoon finding shapes in the clouds.
34. Nap in a hammock
35. Visit an art festival.
36. Discover a new park.
37. Go barefoot.
38. Get a new cut and color for the summer.
39. Eat watermelon. Spit seeds.
40. Go tubing.

 

 

 

Deborah Malone's first novel "Death in Dahlonega," finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writer's Category Five writing contest! Deborah was nominated for 2012 and 2013 Georgia Author of the Year Award in Novel category. She has worked as a freelance writer and photographer for the historical magazine "Georgia Backroads." She has had many articles and photographs published, and her writing is featured in "Tales of the Rails," edited by Olin Jackson as well as the "Christian Communicator, and the "Southern Writer's Magazine." She is member of the Georgia Writer's Association, Advanced Writers and Speaker's Association and the American Christian Fiction Writers. You can find her at www.deborah-malone.com.

50 Ways to Enjoy Fall

 

 

 

50 Ways to Enjoy Fall

 

 

1. Road trip to see the changing leaves.

 

2. Check out a local craft or harvest Festival.

 

3. Visit a pumpkin patch.                                                          

 

4. Go apple picking.

 

5. Take a walk in the woods.

 

6. Have a bonfire.

 

7. Tell ghost stories.

 

8. Play in a leaf pile.

 

9. Get involved in The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.

 

10. Throw a costume party.

 

11. Learn to bake a pie from scratch.

 

12. Watch a scary movie.

 

13. Make S'mores.

 

14. Create a fall centerpiece.

 

15. Go tailgating with friends.

 

16. Visit a haunted house or corn maze.

 

17. Build a scarecrow.                                 

 

18. Plant spring bulbs.

 

19. Attend an Oktoberfest.

 

20. Read a good mystery or horror novel. 

 

21. Learn to knit a scarf.

 

22. Go geocaching in a state park.

 

23. Learn to build a fire.                                                     

 

24. Rent a cabin in the mountains.

 

25. Make a festive wreath.

 

26. Start a journal.

 

27. Watch the sunset.

 

28. Take a hot air balloon ride.

 

29. Go horseback riding.

 

30. Learn to cook with butternut squash.

 

31. Perfect your signature chili recipe.

 

32. Tour a winery.

 

33. Shop for the latest fall fashions.

 

34. Grab some binoculars and start bird watching.

 

35. Donate warm clothing to The Salvation Army.

 

36. Spend a day antiquing.

 

37. Arrange and pot beautiful fall annuals for the porch.

 

38. Read by the fire.

 

39. Hike to a breathtaking overlook.

 

40. Carve a pumpkin.

 

41. Start a new hobby.

 

42. Sketch the season.

 

43. Learn to preserve food and create your own antique labels.

 

44. Take a hayride.

 

45. Go on a ghost tour.

 

46. Make caramel apples.

 

47. Explore a historic district on foot.

 

48. Find a way to volunteer.

 

49. Visit a zoo.

 

50. Host a game night.

 

Deborah Malone has worked as a freelance writer and photographer since 2001, for the historical magazine "Georgia Backroads." Her writing is also featured in "Tales of the Rails," edited by Olin Jackson and the "Christian Communicator." A member of the Georgia Writers Association and of American Christian Fiction Writers, she has an established blog, Butterfly Journey.

 

 

 





What's Happening!

Hi readers (and writers). Just wanted to bring y'all up-to-date on what I've been doing lately. This past October (2014) I had my fourth Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery published - "Chilled in Chattanooga." Trixie goes to Chattanooga, Tenn. to an intensive writer's conference and is accompanied by her best friend Dee Dee and her great-aunt Nana. While at the conference Trixie finds a body (that's all I can tell ya!) and becomes the prime suspect. Of, course, she is being framed so she along with Dee Dee and Nana have to find the real culprit before her caboose is thrown in the caboose.

Speaking of Writer's Conferences I love to go to conferences, literary festivals, books clubs, libraries, and reader's venues - just about anywhere that someone will listen to me about my books. A couple of weeks ago I was in Birmingham, Alabama for "Murder in the Magic City" where readers and fans can come and listen to mystery authors talk about their books and writing - and they can buy books. That was on a Saturday. I meant to tell you that Birmingham is the home to Anne George, one of the greatest cozy mystery writers in my opinion. But I am biased. :)

Murder in the Magic City

The top picture is of writers one of the panels. I'm second from the left in the white shirt. The picture below is with a fan during the book signing time. It was so much fun. That was on Saturday. Then we all packed up and drove to Wetumpka, Alabama (where The Big Fish was filmed) and we had "Murder on the Menu." We sat at tables with readers and fans while they ate lunch. It was so much fun to meet readers and talk to them about what they liked in a mystery.

Some ladies I talked with at "Murder on the Menu." I love to talk with my readers. I encourage them to write me an email and let me know how they like my books. Oh, just a little tidbit, the man in the picture is my fiancé, Travis Williams. He is so good to go with me and help me carry books, encouragement, etc.  I could go on, but I won't bore you any longer. I look forward to a productive 2015. I have a story plotted out for another Trixie Montgomery book "Homicide in Helen." And I have the first book finished in a new series - Skye Southerland Cozy Mystery Series. I'm just looking for a home for it. I have several venues to attend this next year so I'm looking forward to those. Hope you enjoyed this little bit of news. Let me hear about your plans or goals for 2015. 





Red Herrings ~ Something Fishy in Cozy Mysteries

I am here to distract you!

A cozy mystery isn’t complete without the use of “red herrings.” A red herring is a false clue the author uses to send readers and the fictional sleuth in directions that don’t lead to the real villain. It is simply a tool to distract from the real culprit.

In the literal sense, no fish called a red herring exists; rather, the term refers to a fish that’s been strongly cured in brine or heavily smoked. The process makes the fish smell and turns the flesh a reddish color.

There is some debate about the etymology of the term red herring. The most common theory is that the strong smelling fish were used to train hunting dogs. The red herring would be dragged along a trail until a puppy learned to follow the scent. Later on, the trainer would drag a red herring perpendicular to the trail of the animal being hunted, and the dog would eventually learn to follow the trail of the animal. Another theory points to escaping convicts who used red herring to throw off hounds in pursuit.

No matter how the term came about, a cozy mystery wouldn’t be complete without red herrings to compel the book’s sleuth to go in directions that don’t point to the real villain. The cozy author can do this in several ways. The red herring used most often is giving other characters a motivation to kill the victim. Another technique used is to lead the sleuth astray with gossip or by planting false evidence at the scene of the crime. Sometimes the wrong victim is killed by accident—another red herring.

Cozy authors owe it to our readers to provide enough red herrings to make a story interesting. We also need to make sure all the red herrings are explained at the end of a book; for instance, if the sleuth uncovers a potential murder weapon at a possible suspect’s house, but that suspect turns out to the innocent, we need to know why the weapon was there. 

One notable example of the use of a red herring is the convict Seldon in “The Hound of the Baskervilles” by Sir Author Conan Doyle. The reader believes that Seldon must be involved in the murders, but he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I'd love to hear from our readers. What is your favorite red herring from a cozy you've recently read?

Celebrate With Me!

 It's here! What you ask? The third book in my Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Series, "Terror on Tybee Island." It's available on Amazon.com or you can email me through my website www.deborah-malone.com for an autographed copy. Don't forget Christmas is right around the corner. Let me tell you a little about this book.

 

 

 

 

Trixie Montgomery is the main character and her sidekick and best friend is Dee Dee Lamont. Trixie is a writer for a magazine and is sent on assignments to different towns. It seems everywhere they go a dead body turns up and Trixie and Dee Dee must find the person who committed the dastardly deed. Trixie’s eccentric great-aunt, Nana, joins in on the fun. With Nana around there’s never a dull moment. For instance she gets a tattoo in “Terror on Tybee Island.” 

“Terror on Tybee Island” takes place on the beautiful Tybee Island off of Savannah. Trixie, Dee Dee, Nana and Trixie’s mother Betty Jo go for a relaxing vacation on the island. Betty Jo’s friend puts them up in her bed and breakfast. It turns out to be anything but relaxing when Trixie finds a body in the sand behind the house. Betty Jo’s friend, Laura, is accused of the murder so of course Trixie and Dee Dee must come to the rescue when Betty Jo begs them to help Laura. They run into quite a few suspects as they attend a taping of Paula Dean’s cooking, a trip to the Mercer-Williams house, and a pirate festival.

 

During the festival Nana is kidnapped and you’ll have to read the book to see if Trixie and Dee Dee arrive in time to save her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deborah Malone’s first novel Death in Dahlonega, finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Category Five writing contest! Deborah was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year in First Novel category. She has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, for the historic magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published, and her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails,” edited by Olin Jackson. She is a member of the Georgia Writer’s Association as well as Advanced Writer’s and Speakers Association. As a current member of the American Christian Fiction Writer she has established a blog where she reviews Christian Fiction.  

Deborah Malone

“Death in Dahlonega” and "Murder in Marietta"

www.deborah-malone.com

 The Road to Publishing

 

 

1.      Finish That Novel:  Finish the book. Publishers are not really interested in ideas. They want to see that a would-be author has the skill, the stamina and the discipline to finish the job. After finishing your book set it aside for a couple of weeks then go back to it and start editing. Hire an editor if necessary. Two books I’ve found invaluable for my writing:

“Write in Style” by Bobbie Christmas and “Goal, Motivation and Conflict” by Debra Dixon.

2.      Researching Publishers And Agents:  Study books that are the same genre as your book and see who their agent/publisher is. It is usually listed in the front of their book. Look for publishers on-line and study their guidelines for submissions. Find out what they are looking for. There are also books that are helpful to find publishers such as: “Christian Writer’s Market Guide” by Sally Stuart and “2012 Writer’s Market” by Robert Lee Brewer. Note: It is necessary to have an agent for big name publishers. If you do not want to go this route please do not forget the small presses. Please do your homework and check out small publishers or self-publishing companies. If you go this route a book you will want to read is: “Stress-Free Marketing” by Renea Winchester.

3.      Write A Synopsis And Query Letter: According to Kaye Dacus at www.kayedacus.com  you should first and foremost familiarize yourself with the kind of synopsis your targeted publishing house requests. Most will want a “normal” synopsis (about one doubled-spaced synopsis per 10,000 words of your novel.)  - Your query letter is your introduction to an editor/agent. You do not want to immediately label yourself as a “newbie” or an amateur when they open the envelope. Spend time learning the correct way to write a query.

4.      Prepare Your Proposal: The proposal is where you really brand yourself as a writer. It’s where you show the agent/editor that you’re so much more than just 100,000 words of a story written down on paper. It’s where you show them you understand the industry, you understand what they’re looking for, you know who your competitors are, and you realize that 80% + of the marketing for a published author is done by the author.

5.      Send Out Queries:  Be sure and follow the guidelines of the publishers you’ve researched. Send only what they’ve ask for – do not add anything unless they’ve requested it. It is important to not send any photographs or illustrations. Do not use fancy paper or elaborate fonts. These are the marks of an amateur, and will only hurt your chances. (www.mythicscribes.com)

6.      Be Prepared For Rejections:  You will receive them. Most of the rejection letters will be in form letter style. Do not let this get you down. Keep sending out the queries. Every author has a story to tell about the rejections letters they accumulated before being published. Consider a rejection letter as a sign you are writing. How many people can say they’ve even received a rejection letter? Keep writing and persevere. The writers who persevered are the ones who are now published.

7.      Continue Writing:  Don’t stop writing. The more you write the more you improve in the craft of writing. It will help you find out if you are able to write more than the “one hit wonder.” It might be that it will be your second or third book that gets published so don’t sit idle while waiting to hear from those publishers.

  Deborah has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, since 2001, for the historical magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published during this time. Her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails” edited by Olin Jackson. She has also had a showing of her photographs at Floyd Medical Center Art Gallery as well as winning several awards. Her debut cozy mystery "Death in Dahlonega", a winner in the ACFW Category Five Writer's Contest, is now available. She is a current member of the Georgia Writers Association, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Deborah has been nominated for Georgia Author of the Year 2012. She has an established blog, Butterfly Journey, where she reviews Christian Fiction. You can also catch her at
Sleuths and Suspects, where she reviews mysteries. She also contributes to the Cozy Mystery Magazine every other Tuesday.

FREE: A Cup of Cozy--Short Mysteries from the Authors of Cozy Mystery Magazine

A Cup of Cozy is available for free on Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/377046

And the Winner is. . .

We took the comments you left and results from the poll and the winner is. . . 

The one change you will see is a suggestion made in comments by someone who asked that the background be toned down behind the title and subtitle. I figured out how to do that using Pixelator for Mac and, boom! Here ya go!

Thanks for participating in this selection process. It was great fun! We'll announce the release of the ebook soon. . . Very soon. . .

Help Us Choose a Book Cover (Poll)------>

The holiday season is almost here, and what better way to celebrate cold days and even colder nights than by curling up with a hot drink and a good story? Yeah, we think so too! 

Some of the authors here at Cozy Mystery Magazine have decided to put together a compilation of short stories that we'll be giving away for free. Yes, FREE! But we need your help. Tell us, dear readers, which cover art appeals most to your eye, then cast your vote in the Poll (upper right corner of sidebar). Wanna leave a comment instead? Great, we'll add those votes to the final tally too! 

Happy voting!

Poll closes Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 11:59 PM.

Cover #1

Cover #2












Cover #3

Cover #4

Plain Jane's Dirty Little Murder!

When we last saw Jane Adler she had managed to just barely escape being kicked out of Bible School, and there was a young man in her life she wanted to see quite a bit more of. (And another young man she was glad to see the back of!) She had solved her first murder (and likely hoped it would be the last!)

But things aren't easy for stubborn young women with lofty ambitions!

A year after Good, Clean Murder we find Jane cleaning houses and enjoying a relaxing summer. Her boyfriend (is it Isaac or Jake? You must read to find out!) is out of town for the summer, the only flaw in an otherwise perfect break.

The great news is that her church has included her in a group of future missionaries they are interested in supporting.

The bad news is she finds another dead body.

What ought to have been a summer of saving up money, impressing her church, and mooning over her long distance boyfriend becomes a haywire adventure filled with competitive future missionaries, boy troubles, and very jealous wives and widows.

If Jane can't clean this mess up quick she might just crack under the pressure!

For a brief period Good Clean Murder and Dirty Little Murder will be exclusive at Amazon! If you're a prime member, you can read them for free!

Special Guest D. A. FEATHERLING

Special Guest D.A. FEATHERLING

   

                            By Nancy Jill Thames

How lovely to make a new friend, especially when she is an answer to prayer. God works in amazing ways to provide. In this case, I was subconsciously searching for a way to join American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Lord put Dorothy right in my path. He never ceases to amaze me! Dorothy attended a meeting where I was a guest speaker, and I was taken with her immediately. This gracious lady sent me information about ACFW and offered to take me to the local chapter meeting. I, in turn, offered to feature her on today's post. Please help me welcome D. A. Featherling!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

D. A. Featherling is a prolific author who writes in several genres. Her first novel, “It Adds Up to Murder” was published in March, 2013. Her years in business as an administrator for corporations, state agencies, and a university physics research center make her a perfect candidate to write about the lives and loves of everyday people. 

She has also written non-fiction and technical pieces for a number of years as well. Her advertising, public relations, and marketing skills lend themselves to the promotion of her fiction, and her awards for journalism, fiction writing, and public speaking attest to her ability.

D. A. was co-founder of the CenTex Chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and served as its president for several years. She also coordinated the first ever national ACFW Conference in St. Louis, Missouri in 2001 where a then budding author named Karen Kingsbury was the keynote speaker.

She lives in Georgetown, Texas, a small town with a big heart, perfect for imagining all sorts of delightful mayhem among the citizenry.

D. A. (Dorothy) Featherling offers her debut mystery novel “It Adds Up to Murder” for mystery fans of both genders.  The book is the first book in a series, “It’s Murder at the Office.” The series will feature Abigail Newhouse, a temporary worker, as its protagonist. As Abby changes jobs, Homicide Lieutenant Nick Vaughn finds that murder is sure to follow. Each of the books in the series will feature either an office machine or an office procedure as the means of/reason for the murder.

Abigail Newhouse is forced to work temporary jobs to make ends meet.  She discovers that while the jobs can be murderous, there aren’t usually any dead bodies involved.

Abby isn’t expecting crime at her first long term assignment, but when it occurs, she wants to help. Will Homicide Lieutenant Nick Vaughn believe that – or is she his main suspect?

Abby soon finds sleuthing has placed her in deadly peril when she finally confronts a merciless killer face-to-face.

Carrying out her theme of writing in multiple genres, D. A. published her second novel, a romantic comedy, in April. It’s titled “Sauce for the Goose.”

The girl has got to go!

To save her son from a romantic mistake, Laurel Edmonds renews some former relationships of her own. Complications abound when new beau Mike Hudson is added to the mix.

Her romantic dilemmas, her plot to save her son, and worries about her mother, aka The Bus Queen, force Laurel to cope with a fake engagement gone real, a surprise wedding, and a confession she never imagined she’d have to make.

Website:  www.dafeatherling.com

Books available from http://www.amazon.com

or through author web link  -  Available in Kindle or Softcover editions

May also be ordered from any bookstore

Member:  American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), CenTex Chapter ACFW, San Gabriel Writer’s League, Leander Writers Guild

See you in my books!

 ~Nancy Jill 

Mystery novelist Nancy Jill Thames began publishing Christian fiction in 2010. The author of six books in the Jillian Bradley series, she is an award winning blogger and is listed numerous times on the Author Watch Bestseller’s List, this in addition to winning first place for her Chocolate Cream Pie.

When she isn’t plotting her next book, she spends time with her six grandchildren, tags along with her husband on business trips, and plays classical piano for her own personal enjoyment. She is an active member of the Leander Writers Guild and supports the Central Texas SPCA with a portion of her book sales. CONTACT INFORMATION jillthames@gmail.com

 Nancy Jill is busy working on Book 7 "The Ruby of Siam" a mystery taking place in London.

Enjoy Book 1 MURDER IN HALF MOON BAY for free!

Amazon Paperback $8.09
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