Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

 

 

 

 

25 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays

 

 

1. Spread the cheer! Do one act of kindness for someone each day of the holiday season.

 

2. Go ice skating!

 

3. Have a holiday movie night and watch all of your favorites. What is your favorite?

 

4. Grab some warm cider and drive around one night looking at the beautiful Christmas lights.

 

5. Buy a CD of holiday tunes and sing along to it in the car as you travel this season.

 

6. Build something creative and fun out of gingerbread.

  

                             7. See a local holiday play, show, or Christmas pageant.

 

8. Choose charities for holiday donations. You could sponsor a child for Christmas, donate food to an animal shelter, or give coats and blankets to the homeless.

 

9. Go sledding on a favorite mountain.

 

10. Give a waiter or waitress an extra large tip.

 

11. Wear at least one festive outfit.

 

12. Take blankets and a thermos of cocoa and go see a Christmas parade.

 

13. Make a gift for someone special.

 

14. Attend a holiday party and learn a new recipe to bring along.

 

15. Make a DYI Christmas photo booth with props and have a silly photo shoot with loved ones.

 

16. Read Christmas stories.                                                

 

17. Make winter treats for your backyard wildlife.

 

18. Make treats for your neighbors.

 

19. Shop at  a Christmas market.

 

20. Try a creative hot chocolate recipe with flavors like orange cayenne pepper, or peanut butter.

 

21. Create a one-of-a-kind wreath for your front door.

 

22. Bundle up and enjoy the beauty of winter by taking a nature walk.

 

23. Bake Christmas cookies. Try something new like rum balls or lemon crinkles.

 

24. Get a new pair of pajamas for everyone in the family to open and wear to bed on Christmas Eve.

 

25. Remember what the reason for the season is and be grateful, humble, kind, compassionate, and generous each day.

 

 

 

 

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 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 and Advanced Writers and Speaker's Association. As a current member of the American Christian Fiction Writers she has established a blog where she reviews Christian Fiction. 

Holiday Gift Guide for Cozy Mystery Lovers

Hello, dear readers! 

I hope this holiday season finds you and your family well and safe. In these turbulent times, I'm reminded that we must treasure each day God gives us.  As we press on, Thanksgiving seems to be officially blended in with Christmas as more and more people choose to decorate early, including myself. With traveling more to grown children's homes for the holidays, I find myself compelled to decorate earlier every year when the holidays get closer. Now, instead of decorating the day after Thanksgiving, we will be having our tree-trimming party the weekend before. Anyone else experiencing this change of events?

The next thing to start thinking about is gifts and what to give. I find parents are the most challenge. My mom doesn't need a thing, but she does love to read. Books bring a different world to readers and provide great entertainment for hours. I count a new book as a definite treat!

If you'd like to give a friend or a loved one a gift that keeps on giving, the Jillian Bradley mysteries might be a good choice. Rated G with no profanity or offensive scenes, they are the perfect gift choice for readers on your list. Books range in price from $7.99 to $11.99 for paperbacks and FREE to $3.99 for eBooks. Not bad when you consider one can purchase the entire series for under $99.00 + tx and s/h. (Amazon Prime members enjoy free s/h!) 

Besides the 10 book series, there are short stories about Jillian and Teddy included in the holiday anthologies "A Cup of Cozy" series, and the latest one out "Happy Homicides." The "Cup of Cozy" anthologies include recipes and menus, and recipes and crafts abound in the bonus issue of "Happy Homicides."

Here is a complete list of books and buy links: 

 Book Purchase Sites 

Whatever gifts we give and receive, may we be reminded of the greatest gift of all - Jesus, God's only begotten Son. 

Happy Holidays!

~Nancy Jill

God has blessed me beyond even my wildest imagination, always guiding my life, giving me a loving husband, four wonderful children, and a number of precious grandchildren. I hope you enjoy the Jillian Bradley mysteries - they are works of love.

To stay in touch please visit these sites.

Twitter - @mystriterdva

Blog - Author Nancy Jill Thames, Queen of Afternoon Tea
Pinterest - mystriterdva
Blog - Cozy Mystery Magazine
Goodreads - Nancy Jill Thames
Facebook
Linkedin
Google +
jillthames@gmail.com

Book Cover Reveal for "Buckhead Dead"

Well it's that time of year when I usually have a new book coming out. This year will be no exception. I am proud to present the cover and back blurb for my next book, "Buckhead Dead." Buckhead is an affluent part of Atlanta, GA. Since I live about an hour away from Atlanta it was easy to gather the information I needed to make the setting true to life - as they are in all my books. This is number one in the Skye Montgomery Cozy Mystery Series. I hope to have a least three books all together. I have another big announcement, but I will wait for my next post to tell you about it - and I'll even provide pictures. Without further ado here is the cover!

 

 



Skye Southerland and Honey Truelove have just finished an interior design job for Sylvia Landmark, one of Buckhead's most eccentric characters, and their designs are to die for. After a celebration at Sylvia's home where they reveal the new décor, including a desk with a possible link to the pirate Blackbeard, Sylvia turns up dead, leaving the ladies wondering if this desk is worth more than they bargained for. Skye and Honey are now suspects in the murder of a woman who had few friends, and plenty of enemies. In an attempt to clear their names, Skye, Honey, and Honey's loveable cousin Ginger embark on a journey to find the real killer, figure out the history behind the desk, and clear their names before they end up going to jail, or even worse, becoming the next victims! With plenty of warnings from Skye's husband Mitch, and the ruggedly handsome Detective Montaine assigned to Sylvia's case, these girls still manage to get right in the middle of the investigation, while having time to enjoy all that Georgia has to offer.

 

 

 

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 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 as well as the Christian Communicator. She is a member of Georgia Writer's Association and Advanced Writer's & Speaker's Association. As a current member of American Christian Fiction Writers she has established a blog where she reviews Christian Fiction.



"A Cup of Cozy 3" Now Available!

Amazon.com

And now there are three, with the first book as our free gift. So excited to announce the launch of  "A Cup of Cozy 3"  in this cozy mystery anthology series filled with short mysteries and holiday recipes.

This issue introduces Janice Hanna Thompson, a popular award-winning and well-loved author familiar to many in the Christian literary world.

Linda P. Kozar writes a story taking place in Turkey, while Cynthia Hickey's story revels in a masquerade mystery. My story "Final Performance" takes place in San Francisco when Jillian and her garden club friends attend "The Nutcracker" in the heart of downtown.

I hope you enjoy the stories as well as the yummy recipes at the end. Happy Holidays! And reviews would be simply lovely. Thank you, dear readers.

~Nancy Jill 

NANCY JILL THAMES

   I suppose the most logical explanation of where imagination for writing my books comes from would be the fact I was an Air Force brat who moved around constantly until I was in the sixth grade. We lived in interesting places, too. Casablanca, French Morocco, where camels and gendarmes (French policemen) passed our house on a daily basis and Las Vegas, Nevada - boy, was it hot! Valdosta, Georgia,  Albuquerque, New Mexico....One night I lay awake counting the number of places I've lived and it came to fourteen!

   My mother was always off playing bridge or bowling with the other officers' wives while my three brothers and I entertained ourselves, making up adventures and getting into mischief. We had servants or baby-sitters, of course, but as long as we were busy, they left us alone.

   Coupled with the fact that I never saw a TV until I was eight and having two type-A parents, I guess it was inevitable I would be a writer someday. 

   I became a believer when I was almost nine thanks to my parents who were devout Christians. They made sure we attended Sunday school and church every week. It was at that time I was given piano lessons. I went on to playing in church, singing in a Madrigal group in high school, and getting a music degree from UT Austin. 

   God has blessed me beyond even my wildest imagination, always guiding my life, giving me a loving husband, four wonderful children, and a number of precious grandchildren. 

   I hope you enjoy the Jillian Bradley mysteries - they are works of love.

To stay in touch please visit these sites.

Twitter - @mystriterdva

Blog - Author Nancy Jill Thames, Queen of Afternoon Tea
Pinterest - mystriterdva
Blog - Cozy Mystery Magazine
Goodreads - Nancy Jill Thames
Facebook
Linkedin
Google +
jillthames@gmail.com

AWARDS

                 

                           

New Anthology "A Cup of Cozy 3" Out Soon

Our family loves to watch Christmas movies. We look forward to the tradition of being together cuddled up by the fire, laughing at the antics of "Home Alone" or shedding a tear or two at the conclusion of "A Christmas Carol." That's how we at Cozy Mystery Magazine feel about our "A Cup of Cozy" holiday anthologies.

This year's theme for "A Cup of Cozy 3" is Destination Christmas: Short Holiday Mysteries and Recipes. Linda Kozar writes a story taking place in Turkey, and my setting is San Francisco. I'll save the other settings for a later post.

As we take time to enter the busiest time of the year, I hope we'll find time to enjoy the journey. Being with friends and family while celebrating fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas is a special reminder of the abundant blessings God has poured out all year.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

~Nancy Jill

Nancy Jill Thames was born to write mysteries. From her early days as the neighborhood story-teller to the Amazon Author Watch Bestseller List, she has always had a vivid imagination and loves to solve problems – perfect for plotting whodunits. In 2010, Nancy Jill published her first mystery Murder in Half Moon Bay, introducing her well-loved protagonist Jillian Bradley and clue-sniffing Yorkie “Teddy.”

When she isn’t plotting Jillian’s next perilous adventure, Nancy Jill travels between Texas, California, and Georgia finding new ways to spoil her grandchildren, playing classical favorites on her baby grand, or having afternoon tea with friends.
She lives with her husband in Leander, Texas, where she is a member of Leander Writers’ Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW CenTex Chapter), and Central Texas Authors.

Watch for her new story "Teddy Saves Christmas" in a holiday anthology with a special bonus issue offer to launch October 15th on all sites. Available for preorder for only $.99 at: https://www.booklaunch.io/joannaslan/happyhomicidesholiday

To learn more about Nancy Jill, visit these sites.

Facebook

Twitter 
Website

Pinterest

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.