tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60450922260994900382024-02-07T16:11:18.432-06:00COZY MYSTERY MAGAZINEA fun blog for Christian authors and cozy mystery lovers Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.comBlogger448125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-58945678394064157292020-05-18T11:46:00.001-05:002020-05-18T11:50:54.215-05:00A Cup of Tea and a Cozy Mystery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Hello, everyone. Today I wanted to share about Old Country Roses China. According to Macy's this pattern is the most popular pattern in the world! It's no wonder. The lovely pink, red and yellow roses are suited to any season. Rimmed with gold, this china is truly stunning! The first cup and saucer in my collection was handed down from my Aunt Louise who knew I loved to collect them. </b></span></div>
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<b style="text-indent: 0.2in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Soon, after being inspired by a photo on Pinterest, I searched online until I found this cup and saucer in the Avon shape. I simply couldn't live without it!</span></b></div>
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<b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.2in;">And then, I had to purchase the tea set because </span><span style="text-indent: 0.2in;">I needed an extra creamer fo</span><span style="text-indent: 0.2in;">r a party I was hosting. The set was less expensive than the creamer alone. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">I don't know what makes your heart go pitty-pat, but for me it's beautiful dishes. The Jillian Bradley Mystery Series has afternoon tea in every book. Some say I use too many descriptions of food and clothes but writers write about who they are and what they do. If you love beauty like me along with a good mystery free of anything unpleasant except perhaps a murder here and there, you may want to check them out.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">Thank you for joining me this week. I pray you stay safe and sound in the days ahead.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.2in;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Try Book 1 in the series as a Free</span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.2in;"> eBook!</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 19.2px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All Jillian Bradley wants is to spend a quiet weekend by the ocean and enjoy her afternoon tea. But a startling discovery draws Jillian and her garden club friends into solving a mystery that threatens her life and changes her future. </span></b><b style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Murder in Half Moon Bay," Book 1 in the Jillian Bradley Mystery Series, introduces Jillian's little companion Teddy, a Yorkie who falls prey to danger but rises to become a sleuth dog in the next book.</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">~Nancy Jill</span></span></b></span></div>
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Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-71932774019660192032020-03-18T18:19:00.001-05:002020-03-18T18:19:31.935-05:00COVID-19 What is Going to Happen Now?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">When I lay down at night, my mind whirls with thoughts of the day:</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">How long will our food last?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">If my husband gets sick, will I?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Will hospitals overflow with virus victims?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Will we have enough medicine to get through this virus if we catch it?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What about those losing jobs?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">In essence, what is going to happen now?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">No one knows.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">But I can begin to see good things emerging:</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The environment in Italy is clearing of pollutants due to less traffic. Wild life is returning.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Children, home from school, are with their parents.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Parents are spending less time on their cell phones and tending to their family’s needs.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Many businesses are finding ways to give back to the community.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Less time is being spent commuting.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Many are cooking again because they have to and some are enjoying it!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Families are drawing closer together.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Older parents are receiving attention.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Neighbors are stepping up to help the elderly and those at risk.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">You can probably think of more. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I also believe our country will become more self-sufficient, which is a good thing.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">We as a nation have endured hardships in the past. We have also revived and learned valuable lessons along the way. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, the worst may be yet to come. Let us hold onto our faith, our values, and most importantly, each other. For then we focus on what we can do each day instead of wondering what is going to happen tomorrow. #FlattenTheCurve</span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">~Nancy Jill</span></b></td></tr>
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Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-48373081500435003192020-03-17T10:32:00.000-05:002020-03-17T10:32:11.848-05:00What Inspires Me To Write<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCsW3qduxu6S2u12ONiHF81U3PEW9tZy3IJT1baBg4Ef2VhOzHHC06OHyJkmEhyh5GKT0xNL2ea-NLoJyN9VFQNFTMsLqvaiDnYB3Cnqb5pdrTSqqB7CuVsBawlcigLGQfFmKkAObPDDB/s1600/B3973BE4-436B-4B74-BFF8-ECCC107A8688.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="785" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCsW3qduxu6S2u12ONiHF81U3PEW9tZy3IJT1baBg4Ef2VhOzHHC06OHyJkmEhyh5GKT0xNL2ea-NLoJyN9VFQNFTMsLqvaiDnYB3Cnqb5pdrTSqqB7CuVsBawlcigLGQfFmKkAObPDDB/s320/B3973BE4-436B-4B74-BFF8-ECCC107A8688.jpeg" width="320" /></b></a></div>
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<span class="s2"><b>When I was a little girl living in California my family would travel to Arkansas to visit my grandparents. It was a little long drive, so my parents would tell stories. Sometimes they would even make them up, like “The Dog With Radar Ears” or “How to Find a Good Wife.” That was my first inspiration along with reading every book I could put my hands on.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><b>After I got married my husband and I traveled on his business trips and I kept diaries so I could remember details. The first trip we took to great Britain and France I fell in love with afternoon tea and good coffee. I brought the customs home with me. Those travels and afternoon tea inspired me to put them in books, again, so I could remember.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><b>It all started when we had to get rid of Sandy, our daughter’s pet rat that we all loved dearly. To help soften the sad news I wrote a story called <a href="https://nancy-jill.blogspot.com/p/t.html?m=1">“The Sacrifice”</a> explaining how detrimental the rat’s allergens were to my husband. After I wrote that story I discovered something. I liked to write!</b></span></div>
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<b><span class="s2">In 2001,</span><span class="s3" style="font-style: italic;"> Murder in Half Moon Bay</span><span class="s2"> was my very first attempt at writing a novel. I loved reading murder mysteries but was burned out with the authors I had been reading, so I decided to write a mystery of my own. </span></b></div>
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<span class="s2"><b>My inspiration for Jillian Bradley and her Yorkie companion came from staying at The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay for four days where my husband and I were attending an off-site board meeting for his company. With time on my hands I began creating a murder mystery based on the hotel and inspired by different people I met. I began taking notes of the surroundings and used my imagination to create a protagonist that might be a guest at a gardening conference. I used my husband's name Ted for her little dog, Teddy, since I would have her be a widow.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><b>After writing 12 chapters I shared the plot with my 14 year old daughter and was told how dumb it was and that nobody would ever read it. Discouraged, I ltucked it away for 8 years until one day our son suggested I write a blog.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><b>I began with Camp Grandma Fun but decided to publish my manuscript one chapter at a time for feedback. A newspaper called The Half Moon Bay Review became interested in the story and wanted an interview. Now I was really inspired to finish my book.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><b>A few months later I self-published “Murder in Half Moon Bay” and put it on the market. I included afternoon tea and created the character of Teddy, an intelligent little Yorkshire terrier who is the protagonist’s inseparable companion. And people bought it!</b></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><b>My son inspired me to write the second book using the setting of our next conference in Scottsdale, Arizona called The Sanctuary. He suggested writing about a murder centered on an endangered species since the protagonist is a garden columnist. “The Ghost Orchid Murder” now initiated the series of 11 books and a collection of six short stories to come. </b></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><b>I must add that my husband and I enjoyed collaborating on plots and I credit him for much of my inspiration.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s2"><b>I hope you enjoy the reads. Stay safe. #FlattenTheCurve</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_995251438"><span id="goog_995251439"></span><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqHWmoksERwW1fPuUliZXWFm2rqqsVpw0lYZMV22Lg_vad_HakaloHD_i7ObR4TxUwLbCs9lJrEoRuHAvpbwmfRWIrm00FF6-tIYgUuFAGkqvG01RFTBrenResLTAn0vUBLbdEFk8dZj2/s320/F2BD657F-79B6-4539-854C-3BFB9FAB2013.jpeg" width="271" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/">~Nancy Jill Thames</a></span></b></td></tr>
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Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-40349059984437250692020-01-28T17:00:00.000-06:002020-01-28T17:00:12.744-06:00Can Cozy Mysteries Stir the Imagination or Touch the Heart?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Authors are often loath, like some actors, to review their own work. We are too critical and want to constantly edit or rewrite. But when we achieve a stirring of the imagination or touch the heart we succeed in our craft.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Yesterday I read a short story I'd written a few years ago called "Raven House."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">As writers often do I'd created an unlikable victim and the handful of possible murderers. When I read the story again, surprisingly, tender elements emerged creating moments that were heart touching indeed. Without giving too much away, one character finds forgiveness and freedom from guilt, as the main character, Jillian Bradley, sees an opportunity for reconciliation. In another instance a different character finds true contentment in spite of overwhelming odds his life has dealt. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Can a cozy mystery stir the imagination or touch the heart? This one did.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> "Raven House" is included in The Jillian Bradley Short Story Collection along with "Teddy Saves Christmas," another heartwarming tale, "Final Performance," not your average Nutcracker</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">presentation, "Lawrence Buys a Gift," a story full of imagination, "Birthday Bash," with a blast from Jillian's past, and "Sweets, Treats and Murder," a rather grisly story revolving around Valentine's Day. The candy shop is cozy, but not the actual murder. I do apologize.</span></b><br />
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<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 19.2px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://amzn.to/2YB0rrS" style="color: #aa0033; text-decoration-line: none; text-indent: 19.2px;">Amazon Paperback</a></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif;"> <a href="https://apple.co/2M9wSHa" style="color: #aa0033; text-decoration-line: none;">Apple</a></span></span><span style="color: #e4af0a; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif;"> <a href="https://bit.ly/2M92iNW" style="color: #aa0033; text-decoration-line: none;">BN</a></span></span><span style="color: #e4af0a; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="color: #454545; font-family: sfuitext, serif; text-indent: 19.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://bit.ly/2KrJYgR" style="color: #aa0033; text-decoration-line: none;">Kobo</a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/684340" style="color: #aa0033; text-decoration-line: none;">Smashwords</a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">See you in my books!</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QrpNO0b2TYUkhKWbUfKDPHkqb29erCIoo_qtiRzL73e3hGJxINi2sMzrofFojzH0XtcogUILJQ4Jo-qDjcXzl80CulFnftQyhEspKGXQWweHL4eiM4uRV1oo2Li7xilc-eaoJ1T_CL3a/s1600/E565994D-5566-4893-A63E-0078AB36FF7B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QrpNO0b2TYUkhKWbUfKDPHkqb29erCIoo_qtiRzL73e3hGJxINi2sMzrofFojzH0XtcogUILJQ4Jo-qDjcXzl80CulFnftQyhEspKGXQWweHL4eiM4uRV1oo2Li7xilc-eaoJ1T_CL3a/s320/E565994D-5566-4893-A63E-0078AB36FF7B.jpeg" width="271" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">~Nancy Jill Thames</span></b><br />
<a href="https://nancy-jill.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="font-size: small;">https://nancy-jill.blogspot.com/</span></b></a></div>
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Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-41896852516865044112019-12-10T14:37:00.000-06:002019-12-10T14:40:41.327-06:00It’s a Wonderful Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">When I was a little girl I really only remember two Christmases. The first was when I was eight. Santa brought me a bride dress for my doll and a chalkboard that said, “Merry Christmas from Santa.” My mom had made the dress from an old satin formal of hers because we had very little money for gifts. I’ll always believe in Santa Claus!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The other Christmas was the morning we four kids tore into our packages Santa brought, but I remember how haggard my mom looked, as if the gifts had been a financial burden they couldn’t afford. I was ten. Still, we never went without and we all grew up and lived fairly happy lives.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Now as we are retired and have grandchildren I realize what a wonderful life God has blessed us with. He has allowed us to be neither rich nor poor. We have everything we need or want to the point of having to tell our children no more gifts! We’ve run out of room! But we will always have room in our hearts for the Christ child who is the very one making our lives so richly blessed.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> May you have a wonderful Christmas this year as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2YmPkQPmN-fRTtoqesqAP49t3DT9fLT6LevBVbPQD7vBmOSWYGElOu2RO_4tG9eWowROoQ6JGTATBiiWglDcdtUqLD1U7sdRuSw3QsqAxuvIwv42wxSVyCUFFVkDhRHvBawbFE0RlXUj/s1600/A28EFC23-3053-410E-B939-114C5D97223E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="756" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2YmPkQPmN-fRTtoqesqAP49t3DT9fLT6LevBVbPQD7vBmOSWYGElOu2RO_4tG9eWowROoQ6JGTATBiiWglDcdtUqLD1U7sdRuSw3QsqAxuvIwv42wxSVyCUFFVkDhRHvBawbFE0RlXUj/s320/A28EFC23-3053-410E-B939-114C5D97223E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgTUwX-nPzN92XcD8nfnhf7_YaRdJjXYezs-bI9zDgzNBEVtwq5TG6frkaYyl5ZjWRhoy14GbRd89vtfTASXZH75CzIIE__H3bHdPxGm-v96GwNNMjX0YQrxrSRcIK2o4A3QtYoHKvo6A/s1600/E565994D-5566-4893-A63E-0078AB36FF7B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgTUwX-nPzN92XcD8nfnhf7_YaRdJjXYezs-bI9zDgzNBEVtwq5TG6frkaYyl5ZjWRhoy14GbRd89vtfTASXZH75CzIIE__H3bHdPxGm-v96GwNNMjX0YQrxrSRcIK2o4A3QtYoHKvo6A/s320/E565994D-5566-4893-A63E-0078AB36FF7B.jpeg" width="271" /></span></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">~Nancy Jill Thames</span></b></td></tr>
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Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-76831135207575784692019-12-01T21:32:00.001-06:002019-12-04T12:55:46.261-06:00Cozy Mystery Lovers Gift Ideas!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaavRCxIj-UGyPKYOX0Acqn2akyn5L3jiUUpJ0El8mdCxswiupHelWCHa-zTv-_85pdHtSm0cOvPUTyZ9F7MvPJTl6cr5WX5IbJ5qyMlOOgDUHZE5wvl1YTtoQ7aMk3eUWBhOZRX_TnsTS/s1600/359F854A-2519-4541-BFBC-CAF3F7128C2B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="570" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaavRCxIj-UGyPKYOX0Acqn2akyn5L3jiUUpJ0El8mdCxswiupHelWCHa-zTv-_85pdHtSm0cOvPUTyZ9F7MvPJTl6cr5WX5IbJ5qyMlOOgDUHZE5wvl1YTtoQ7aMk3eUWBhOZRX_TnsTS/s320/359F854A-2519-4541-BFBC-CAF3F7128C2B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Hello, dear readers! </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I
hope this holiday season finds you and your family well and safe. With traveling more to grown children's homes for the
holidays, I'm toning the decorations down a bit. Anyone else experiencing this change of events?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The
next thing to start thinking about is gifts and what to give. Last year my son gave me a mystery anthology and I’ve loved reading the stories. I count a new book as a definite treat!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn2O1qUl0ATd-x9MeKYoBWRriBA3oNK5hx2gHwu0GG0gSU-MvhSEKeJwxMzJdyFDJX3g4Mb01wLVtp6SQ714UOVfiv4dXo5fUn9deCc1JWlOfLY6zTWqFYAIl-8Hv_Yv4MkfnRdWK18dy/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn2O1qUl0ATd-x9MeKYoBWRriBA3oNK5hx2gHwu0GG0gSU-MvhSEKeJwxMzJdyFDJX3g4Mb01wLVtp6SQ714UOVfiv4dXo5fUn9deCc1JWlOfLY6zTWqFYAIl-8Hv_Yv4MkfnRdWK18dy/s320/photo.JPG" width="280" /></a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">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!) </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Besides the 10 book series, there are short stories about Jillian and Teddy included in "The Jillian Bradley Short Story Collection." </span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQNFjdNUASszKHPRKIxp1apfGjsgi7F5rwwggUdKUZTl6pHsJgbapokLMP_yhAHEo5wxhYgXgYCnO7ehwGy3uUFVL3RP0tH_rJjJdVUUo9T5jHOtPxfaF2d7fLD6B9D_a4BlMQ4hNo5QY/s1600/phonto.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQNFjdNUASszKHPRKIxp1apfGjsgi7F5rwwggUdKUZTl6pHsJgbapokLMP_yhAHEo5wxhYgXgYCnO7ehwGy3uUFVL3RP0tH_rJjJdVUUo9T5jHOtPxfaF2d7fLD6B9D_a4BlMQ4hNo5QY/s640/phonto.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">
<b>Here is a complete list of books and buy links:</b><br />
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #e4af0a; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start;">
<span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Jill-Thames/e/B003V55RSG">AMAZON</a></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #e4af0a; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start;">
<span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/nancy%20jill%20thames/_/N-0">BARNES AND NOBLE</a></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #e4af0a; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start;">
<span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/6297">SMASHWORDS</a></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=nancy+jill+thames">KOBO</a></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #e4af0a; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start;">
<span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/co/author/nancy-jill-thames/id586694069?l=en&mt=11">APPLE</a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Whatever gifts we give and receive, may we be reminded of the greatest gift of all - Jesus, God's only begotten Son. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHt7KpQB9dx6EDvs3xRxADxR0UmS6oRVauwy8fE2LuRpLtpx9jwqEKPhDVAAEnZf0zEgALehulMqZbhJVB212BtxDCHOwSy2Q2o6wq52BtwnEfSJp7ZTUDjSbYqidsIpWh613lxGVS2mUN/s1600/the_reason_for_the_season_by_kaosnadi-d4i7qrq.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHt7KpQB9dx6EDvs3xRxADxR0UmS6oRVauwy8fE2LuRpLtpx9jwqEKPhDVAAEnZf0zEgALehulMqZbhJVB212BtxDCHOwSy2Q2o6wq52BtwnEfSJp7ZTUDjSbYqidsIpWh613lxGVS2mUN/s320/the_reason_for_the_season_by_kaosnadi-d4i7qrq.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0_DZ6FiXqNA2ZW-Nf9cxl7KildP0nR6zYdgnVN3cL3XZVapCewp6Dxrpu058O-Pl9LLH5Ox9gAN3qZRpoi-3WR3fXm6CdSb8ueB94kW97mnllvUldAukvk8RTXlPRYAAFFhrPV-tBBYQ/s1600/holidays_christmas_holly_2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0_DZ6FiXqNA2ZW-Nf9cxl7KildP0nR6zYdgnVN3cL3XZVapCewp6Dxrpu058O-Pl9LLH5Ox9gAN3qZRpoi-3WR3fXm6CdSb8ueB94kW97mnllvUldAukvk8RTXlPRYAAFFhrPV-tBBYQ/s200/holidays_christmas_holly_2.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Holidays!</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0l0wORxQEQrGsVhKvWxq_RFuckDXXqJjoa0OMPfJ-xHMxf8GPfLgZWkK4z_GevhvfJMHzuXZTXRNLgv2KwaSxmfZ2nVkyB1baxW5TUVcFFIgexJVlytxIshon7d58NUtNmp8nbGlORhU9/s1600/381B082D-3B8B-4A7F-B290-013EC42E1378.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0l0wORxQEQrGsVhKvWxq_RFuckDXXqJjoa0OMPfJ-xHMxf8GPfLgZWkK4z_GevhvfJMHzuXZTXRNLgv2KwaSxmfZ2nVkyB1baxW5TUVcFFIgexJVlytxIshon7d58NUtNmp8nbGlORhU9/s320/381B082D-3B8B-4A7F-B290-013EC42E1378.jpeg" width="271" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">~Nancy Jill</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="aYm0te c-wa-Da note" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">God has blessed me beyond even <i>my</i> wildest
imagination, always guiding my life, giving me a loving husband, four
wonderful children, and a number of precious grandchildren. </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">I hope you enjoy the Jillian Bradley mysteries - they are works of love.</span></b></div>
<div class="aYm0te c-wa-Da note" style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">To stay in touch please visit these sites.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/mystriterdva">Twitter</a> - @NancyJillThames</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://nancy-jill.blogspot.com/">Blog - Author Nancy Jill Thames, Queen of Afternoon Tea</a></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/mystriterdva/">Pinterest</a> - mystriterdva</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com/">Blog - Cozy Mystery Magazine</a></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4097911.Nancy_Jill_Thames">Goodreads</a> - Nancy Jill Thames</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Jill-Thames/124340760960323">Facebook</a></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(53, 28, 117);"><b>LinkedIn-Nancy Jill Thames</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">jillthames@gmail.com</span></span></b></div>
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Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-38545928351783247872019-11-13T11:20:00.000-06:002019-11-13T11:25:21.811-06:00 Getting Ready for the Holidays<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sjFdL40eXSvPxZlnnQTF3RRniWSLQEO72QmumvY61lAgGWKcXV_GYZlDWxNqOP1Qs1AB9vWO4fD9XQm_qKPOmbqA8l9A9z1cNfDb41UBgjlgJolroAZoS6XwL7-CGLwnvLVlixe6Mbz5/s1600/A54B06A0-0057-4279-8537-FF677460DF0B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="539" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sjFdL40eXSvPxZlnnQTF3RRniWSLQEO72QmumvY61lAgGWKcXV_GYZlDWxNqOP1Qs1AB9vWO4fD9XQm_qKPOmbqA8l9A9z1cNfDb41UBgjlgJolroAZoS6XwL7-CGLwnvLVlixe6Mbz5/s320/A54B06A0-0057-4279-8537-FF677460DF0B.jpeg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Hello everyone! With the cold weather setting the mood for the holiday season coming up, I just had to share my new favorite (and easy) for cranberry sauce. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">And with </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner and for many of you Black Friday, too, I've decided to offer my first book "Murder in Half Moon Bay" as a free gift. You can download it now to read later when you're ready for a break during the hectic holidays. (Or January perhaps?)</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxBxcutYArhIJKYpk7xODLNz0FWIkY58ihrOLpIxTxBnaiAByqUS7IQECj0DtTwp48mxAZPBko6ZAW0mcnf0GQ9NGCbnf3gm8gPJwAK4_L30tRl3kcxSYRagIG8WG8060kUXFbIxT3l5Z/s1600/Murder+in+Half+Moon+Bay+final+(3).jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" imageanchor="1" style="color: #aa0033; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxBxcutYArhIJKYpk7xODLNz0FWIkY58ihrOLpIxTxBnaiAByqUS7IQECj0DtTwp48mxAZPBko6ZAW0mcnf0GQ9NGCbnf3gm8gPJwAK4_L30tRl3kcxSYRagIG8WG8060kUXFbIxT3l5Z/s1600/Murder+in+Half+Moon+Bay+final+(3).jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Half-Moon-Bay-Jillian-ebook/dp/B004CLYG9E/ref=sr_1_1_nodl?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1416949554&sr=1-1&keywords=murder+in+half+moon+bay&pebp=1416949584428">Amazon</a><br /> <a href="http://ow.ly/1098Ys">AppleBooks</a><br /> <a href="http://ow.ly/1098tg">Barnes and Noble</a><br /><a href="http://ow.ly/ZYG530gjDeC">Kobo</a></span></b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i>All Jillian Bradley wants is to spend a quiet weekend by the ocean and enjoy her afternoon tea. But a startling discovery draws Jillian and her garden club friends into solving a mystery that threatens her life and changes her future.</i></span></b></div>
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<b style="text-indent: 0.2in;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i>"Murder in Half Moon Bay" Book 1 in the Jillian Bradley Mystery Series, introduces Jillian's little companion Teddy, a Yorkie who falls prey to danger but rises to become a sleuth dog in the next book.</i></span></b><br />
<b style="text-indent: 0.2in;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b><b style="text-indent: 0.2in;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Please feel free to share this offer with anyone who might enjoy a cozy mystery. Thank you! </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving full of blessings with friends and family this year.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Cabernet Cranberry Sauce</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com/p/cozy-kitchen.html?m=1">Recipe</a></span></b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 15.84000015258789px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Cheers!</b></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">~Nancy Jill </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGs2wPI605NP-TmyUfd8IgfPbrQlkERMEHUYoKb03EQVQYiYXy-OMCCPpkvyNqSBaycxLla8GkLbsgEO8T11Eb3IHN8ey8OJPhVcf47Iln913f6Ulo1Si-p_U08OD4UKu8hNeQyYp4VKrN/s1600/C96220D9-B298-4968-A840-C0AAB4E17305.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGs2wPI605NP-TmyUfd8IgfPbrQlkERMEHUYoKb03EQVQYiYXy-OMCCPpkvyNqSBaycxLla8GkLbsgEO8T11Eb3IHN8ey8OJPhVcf47Iln913f6Ulo1Si-p_U08OD4UKu8hNeQyYp4VKrN/s320/C96220D9-B298-4968-A840-C0AAB4E17305.jpeg" width="249" /></span></b></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">As I age one thing is certain-I only have today. Just today to do what’s important. For me, making a cozy home for my husband and me is the thing I care about most. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Around the holidays now, instead of trying to plan around our children’s families, I have laid out a plan to bake and cook meals for only the two of us. Extra cookies and candies will be gifts for neighbors and my husband’s friends at the golf course. Special meals will be shared as luncheons for friends.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Because I’m older the holiday decorations are put up as soon as Halloween is over and not taken down until after New Years. Since it takes us four days to decorate I want to enjoy the festive atmosphere for more than one month!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Today I baked these White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Cookies. I found the recipe on Pinterest. If all goes well, I’ll be making ten kinds of homemade cookies, four homemade candies, three special desserts (four if I can find persimmons), seven appetizers, and five holiday meals. All for my husband and me and our friends. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Yes, we’ll be with children on the holidays but they’ll be cooking their own special recipes. Perhaps they’ll make one or two of mine. But if they don’t, it’s quite all right.</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Happy Holidays!</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9Wf0dTh86qgVR9UHbhX5soZ4K1giXISpH4W-BRkkrvJsK9ay8T25vMCx6AjgY7zHvlK1AV8Q7rnxsuYZupno_IP0V3HUaAQUgTt1LqxvZUyaebkzX565EqJe3uXLzf_i44k01q6czUPg/s1600/B609CEFE-C283-423E-9F1C-DEEB947482F7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9Wf0dTh86qgVR9UHbhX5soZ4K1giXISpH4W-BRkkrvJsK9ay8T25vMCx6AjgY7zHvlK1AV8Q7rnxsuYZupno_IP0V3HUaAQUgTt1LqxvZUyaebkzX565EqJe3uXLzf_i44k01q6czUPg/s320/B609CEFE-C283-423E-9F1C-DEEB947482F7.jpeg" width="271" /></span></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">~Nancy Jill Thames</span></b></td></tr>
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Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-48357561417128222482019-10-23T15:14:00.000-05:002019-10-23T15:14:25.118-05:00Chili Hot Dogs to Die For!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-Sjgo0ZAYJwa2AZlwMuH1E6QQvpPBVflwz42zGobOUsqjQ-QZWexyP6MFA4KVqEHrTI5ii_iTmMyk-xKt506tpXH6QGNFyKR3hrpTqUKYeJchDsrELiI5rVbIPHk_5E5SQ8V02C5dPfu/s1600/6CB98341-F0A0-40E9-8FC6-3441EC64C05D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-Sjgo0ZAYJwa2AZlwMuH1E6QQvpPBVflwz42zGobOUsqjQ-QZWexyP6MFA4KVqEHrTI5ii_iTmMyk-xKt506tpXH6QGNFyKR3hrpTqUKYeJchDsrELiI5rVbIPHk_5E5SQ8V02C5dPfu/s320/6CB98341-F0A0-40E9-8FC6-3441EC64C05D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">If you love hot dogs as much as I do, you may enjoy this delicious recipe. It’s adaptable to your tastes, of course. When we were first married a tradition was started by having chili hot dogs every Sunday night during the cold months on a cozy little table in front of the fire. Whenever we eat them now we’re reminded of those fond times.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Our son recently shared his method for making them now for his family, so I’m sharing it with you!</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Yummy Chili Hot Dogs</b></span><br />
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INGREDIENTS</h4>
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<b>8 hot dogs</b><br />
<b>8 hot dog buns</b><br />
<b>1 can of chili</b><br />
<b>1/2 an onion, diced</b><br />
<b>cheddar cheese</b><br />
<b>mayonnaise</b><br />
<b>mustard</b><br />
<b>sweet relish</b><br />
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DIRECTIONS</h4>
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<li style="background-position: 0px 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Line inside of hot dog buns with mayonnaise and sweet relish. (I know this sounds crazy, but the mayo did something magical to the bread! It stayed super soft and yummy!)</b></li>
<li style="background-position: 0px 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Evenly add mustard (I added ketchup too). Fill with hot dogs and squish into a 13×9″ baking pan.</b></li>
<li style="background-position: 0px 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Top hot dogs with chili, cheese, and diced onion. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.</b></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>See you in my books!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSjKI167W9kg39niAxjkdqAFh-30cCFOWojTNndaRa5S8FfA2C_k_GpiAvyOQ4Tt1-x22QbTD6yjj3F4J3zYzDm4r8g23tbrxUuE7O-N0Q_cqW6let2aC6x-70GtdCiVb672U8Pl6V0R9/s1600/FBD12286-0DA1-4D88-94AB-12460C744AE7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="253" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSjKI167W9kg39niAxjkdqAFh-30cCFOWojTNndaRa5S8FfA2C_k_GpiAvyOQ4Tt1-x22QbTD6yjj3F4J3zYzDm4r8g23tbrxUuE7O-N0Q_cqW6let2aC6x-70GtdCiVb672U8Pl6V0R9/s200/FBD12286-0DA1-4D88-94AB-12460C744AE7.jpeg" width="158" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>~Nancy Jill Thames</b></span></span></div>
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Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-29889672544544529262019-10-22T16:00:00.001-05:002019-10-22T16:04:35.394-05:00Autumn’s Sweet Whisper<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueC7qPlbURfEjLWWa3i1fkd6xruEzfXuKgbpq3_R-nZSRKz-tZUWHutQXF8ifPndrqpWqueZ4HfYQoyUUeR54wLSGdvqLl3vOe4OB9kqd5qBEOCQOzK-Y_a7outqwlPGyI3d-1MZzI6eC/s1600/C2C31041-66EE-4C3C-8767-844A9C5E9980.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="580" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueC7qPlbURfEjLWWa3i1fkd6xruEzfXuKgbpq3_R-nZSRKz-tZUWHutQXF8ifPndrqpWqueZ4HfYQoyUUeR54wLSGdvqLl3vOe4OB9kqd5qBEOCQOzK-Y_a7outqwlPGyI3d-1MZzI6eC/s320/C2C31041-66EE-4C3C-8767-844A9C5E9980.jpeg" width="275" /></a><b style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">This week finally feels like Autumn here in Texas, despite an awful tornado touching down in North Texas where my grandsons live. Still, today the air is cool and crisp as Autumn should be.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> With the change in seasons the appeal for a nice cup of something warm and soothing seems a necessary part of the afternoon, along with a good book to read. I love books! Even if I never purchased another one I have enough to last a lifetime. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Currently my husband, daughter, and I, are reading through the Redwall Abbey series-22 books in all. They're full of adventure, good versus evil, and lovely descriptions of food enjoyed by the goodbeasts in the stories. I even have the Redwall Cookbook for added inspiration. The books are appropriate for any age.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> If you're looking for books that are more mystery than adventure and are cozy and clean please checkout our <a href="https://cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html">Cozy Books</a> page and give them a try. If you enjoy them, good reviews are always appreciated.</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmDqmf2_7i-x4pv2azLc6Q77FU4xhuauYW8y_Piz7XJuly7cVEknw0ZtG9Utt2t8AMVz2BHDYry_GIxYNdVW13QNEHJ-mg09aGf3_BRi49FJTJfyjH37Sgc9v4NXOhizD9NtdaEMCHkCv/s1600/6EBE8260-AA5E-4D15-95CA-3AD20D216049.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1322" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmDqmf2_7i-x4pv2azLc6Q77FU4xhuauYW8y_Piz7XJuly7cVEknw0ZtG9Utt2t8AMVz2BHDYry_GIxYNdVW13QNEHJ-mg09aGf3_BRi49FJTJfyjH37Sgc9v4NXOhizD9NtdaEMCHkCv/s320/6EBE8260-AA5E-4D15-95CA-3AD20D216049.jpeg" width="264" /></span></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My new teapot and cup and saucer this year serving Grandma's Pumpkin Spice tea from East Anora, NY.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Autumn!</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwD5OUlinciJvWNDtduRHL3g2YSegD7SPL8k8u4RM3Kp3fDoNspuuubDgLoB8HKYB4fU8TrO3N3izxC61lpizwEGNqFs9BwNF_o5x67WnsRUaetrdVGOZMhlAKOsFYKmaJ9-Ifz7Qq3kts/s320/067CDD76-56B4-431B-B354-EF59629A7BF0.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="271" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nancy Jill Thames</span></b></td></tr>
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Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-17433890802535595552019-10-09T14:07:00.001-05:002019-10-15T22:04:43.606-05:00Rest Your Body While Improving Your Mind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOrcYATs2eF-nof4mKfx_8LTrkYZDXCqOQsWJCcNaWd9_OIqFFWs0O8DAWIzmq73E96HlSTviKgZ0vMVUVpF7_JSYvptAfUhTMiOYfEUByhiJXlU0h3Kp-uEgNC7aXHk4kun_4yLJ7X-S/s1600/65377A55-E049-400E-98CE-C557EFC69692.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="593" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOrcYATs2eF-nof4mKfx_8LTrkYZDXCqOQsWJCcNaWd9_OIqFFWs0O8DAWIzmq73E96HlSTviKgZ0vMVUVpF7_JSYvptAfUhTMiOYfEUByhiJXlU0h3Kp-uEgNC7aXHk4kun_4yLJ7X-S/s400/65377A55-E049-400E-98CE-C557EFC69692.jpeg" width="296" /></a><b style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Just as a vacation is supposed to reinvigorate, reading will improve your mind while you relax, unless, of course, you are reading something bloodthirsty or vile, which I'm sure none of you lovely readers do. And even at that, the news reports say nightmares are good exercises to help get us out of difficult situations. Great! </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Every afternoon after completing my chores, I look forward to laying on the sofa, cuddled in a micro fleece throw, with phone, newspaper, and current book in hand. </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">When I'm finished (after about three hours) I rise, make a cup of tea, and eat a small supper. I'm rested just enough to make it though the movie du jour with my husband. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> I believe this routine contributes to good health and a happy disposition. </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Some exercise their bodies. I like to exercise my mind.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> For some good cozy mysteries that probably won't give you nightmares, check out our <a href="https://cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html">Cozy Book Page</a>.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Enjoy!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">See you in my books!</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurblp_hI_y6hsMC02-UVuDYxb0wosYwsPRtf1UuhX7tQX-3Lw1rL4-6K_elRQDJn2MvDGGBksA1UswI5Yv7m6Zg0ExxvSMMzJCkPj7EaAaR10z2US-u7Z3MxxZ2EAFvgqlGpwZjnplnHT/s1600/9A78B4D8-8897-464A-A146-0FB6452021A1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1265" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurblp_hI_y6hsMC02-UVuDYxb0wosYwsPRtf1UuhX7tQX-3Lw1rL4-6K_elRQDJn2MvDGGBksA1UswI5Yv7m6Zg0ExxvSMMzJCkPj7EaAaR10z2US-u7Z3MxxZ2EAFvgqlGpwZjnplnHT/s200/9A78B4D8-8897-464A-A146-0FB6452021A1.jpeg" width="158" /></span></b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">~Nancy Jill Thames</span></b></div>
<br /></div>
Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-49685809687116821112019-10-03T14:00:00.000-05:002019-10-03T14:00:13.221-05:00Choose Books Wisely-Good or Great?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2p10rsgcHcFZyJgy7AUbGe0-47DiduNBzNkKf7bPXgI4fzkrBqTc2gcCYVLCmZxstxctPyyECmKJnpxY6-ios1QiklAWMk7IMD-C3X7zJqqlBSiSX-idgPmtpAAxTd93idgz0CacZFs0/s1600/57B5B763-A8CB-4A37-A0A8-B77D599CD24E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2p10rsgcHcFZyJgy7AUbGe0-47DiduNBzNkKf7bPXgI4fzkrBqTc2gcCYVLCmZxstxctPyyECmKJnpxY6-ios1QiklAWMk7IMD-C3X7zJqqlBSiSX-idgPmtpAAxTd93idgz0CacZFs0/s640/57B5B763-A8CB-4A37-A0A8-B77D599CD24E.jpeg" width="356" /></b></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>For some GREAT books check our </b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> <a href="https://cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html?m=1">Cozy Books </a>page.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> Have a great day, dear readers!</b></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeYcLq_zM_VtODWbA5iLt1GSFK7cv8hDIIHlHeYbI6-5hnUyEeGrGF-c3imBgo0i_cv83uRo7Tj8Y7xJ6mRCoMqaVWLqiMMnCfw4owj4EvGJx463BCIsu0uDSw4YIDaBMajnTKH7TEmyB/s1600/78F6567F-1877-4FC5-BA6A-52532FB87023.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeYcLq_zM_VtODWbA5iLt1GSFK7cv8hDIIHlHeYbI6-5hnUyEeGrGF-c3imBgo0i_cv83uRo7Tj8Y7xJ6mRCoMqaVWLqiMMnCfw4owj4EvGJx463BCIsu0uDSw4YIDaBMajnTKH7TEmyB/s1600/78F6567F-1877-4FC5-BA6A-52532FB87023.jpeg" /></span></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">~Nancy Jill Thames </span></b><br />
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-18438439474103714812019-06-30T13:41:00.000-05:002018-06-23T14:07:03.516-05:00Welcome to Our Blog!<h3>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-72646239150896774482018-11-14T19:51:00.000-06:002018-11-14T19:51:30.488-06:00Fingerprints, Bonanza, and the Chinese<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eRMFm4d0Xcg/W-zQen9XhbI/AAAAAAAAJHo/dkKYnk0rp98GLvaipPBk9i6DhGD2IZFdQCLcBGAs/s1600/Fingerprints%2BBonanza%2Band%2BChinese.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eRMFm4d0Xcg/W-zQen9XhbI/AAAAAAAAJHo/dkKYnk0rp98GLvaipPBk9i6DhGD2IZFdQCLcBGAs/s320/Fingerprints%2BBonanza%2Band%2BChinese.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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One night, hubby and I were watching Bonanza—an episode we’d
seen several times. (If you’re not familiar with Bonanza, it’s a vintage cowboy-ish
television show set in the 1860s. You can <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonanza">read about here</a>.) In this episode,
Little Joe Cartwright was arrested for murder, but at the end of the show, he
was proven innocent in court. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, what does this have to do with cozy mysteries? Well, it
wasn’t law enforcement that helped prove Little Joe innocent, it was Hop Sing, the
Cartwright trusty cook. Like a good sleuth, he used his own wits to prove that
Little Joe didn’t handle the murder weapon by demonstrating how fingerprints work.
And what was fascinating to me about this was that Hop Sing claimed that people
in his country had been using this technique for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The first time I saw this particular Bonanza, I asked, “Really?
Are they for real?” Everyone knows fingerprints weren’t used until Sherlock
Holmes. (Just kidding.) But seriously, I did wonder if the writers of the show
made this up, or if they had facts to back up their story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Out came my trusty laptop. I looked it up, and the writers
of Bonanza didn’t disappoint me. China, in fact, had a lengthy history of using
fingerprints (and hand prints).<o:p></o:p></div>
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The earliest example comes from a Chinese document entitled
“The Volume of Crime Scene Investigation—Burglary”, from the Qin Dynasty (221
to 206 B.C.). The document contains a description of how hand prints were used
as a type of evidence. Chinese officials pressed their fingerprints into clay
seals to seal documents. And when the Chinese began to use silk and paper for
documents, they used hand prints as a means to make contracts legal. In 851 BC,
Abu Zayd Hasan, an Arab merchant in China, witnessed Chinese merchants using
fingerprints to authenticate loans. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That means that though the story of Hop Sing, Little Joe,
and the fingerprints was fiction, it could have happened. I just love cool
historical facts, especially when they involve crime solving.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lMdLnlOHcbY/W-zQJ9AafuI/AAAAAAAAJHg/kkOyIfnB3uMGBjJSj70108ROw-FCiKZxQCLcBGAs/s1600/Bio%2Bfor%2Bbottom%2Bof%2Bblog%2Barticles.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="1313" height="80" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lMdLnlOHcbY/W-zQJ9AafuI/AAAAAAAAJHg/kkOyIfnB3uMGBjJSj70108ROw-FCiKZxQCLcBGAs/s400/Bio%2Bfor%2Bbottom%2Bof%2Bblog%2Barticles.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-38367774798565617492018-11-04T21:12:00.000-06:002018-11-04T21:45:04.378-06:00Hetty Wainthropp Investigates<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p7c01QA7XxI/W9-rcEcJnhI/AAAAAAAAJFs/k-MFztJ3PT4oFtmaJssKHdHJO6JOoEnCwCLcBGAs/s1600/britbox-b008nf4w-Full-Image_GalleryCover-en-US-1504059348332._RI_Vepk8xiLghvKhCkanhHdQ7tQNSMGZSQ_TTW_UX667_UY375_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="667" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p7c01QA7XxI/W9-rcEcJnhI/AAAAAAAAJFs/k-MFztJ3PT4oFtmaJssKHdHJO6JOoEnCwCLcBGAs/s320/britbox-b008nf4w-Full-Image_GalleryCover-en-US-1504059348332._RI_Vepk8xiLghvKhCkanhHdQ7tQNSMGZSQ_TTW_UX667_UY375_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I’ve discovered a new-to-me British cozy mystery series from
the BBC called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hetty Wainthropp
Investigates</i>. The show aired on the BBC from 1996 through 1998. I watch it for
free on Acorn TV, which I access through Amazon Prime for a small additional
monthly fee. (My husband would argue that if I’m paying a monthly fee, the
shows aren’t really free. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sigh. </i>Must my bubble really be burst?)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, Hetty, played by British actress Patricia Routledge, is a
retired pensioner who decides to become a detective after solving her first
mystery, which (of course) she just stumbled into. To the chagrin of her husband
Robert, after her first successful case, she gets business cards printed and
takes out an ad in the paper to advertise her new detective business. Robert is irritated by her chosen new profession,
especially when it bites into the family budget, but he often helps her
investigate. Along the way, she gains a slightly delinquent teenaged sidekick
name Geoffrey who becomes like a family member. Their relationships are entertaining and grow in warmth as the series continues.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Hetty is no-nonsense, bold, and forthright, but she’s also
kind. She’s known to give hugs and make sure people have food to eat. I enjoy
the interactions between her and other characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She often refers to her “little grey cells,”
which is a phrase Hercule Poirot used. Here’s a typical Hetty-like quote: “This is a real
puzzle. Something's gone arsy-darsy somewhere.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I'm enjoying it more with each program. The first few episodes were a little
odd. The conclusions weren't as satisfying as they might have been. No one was arrested and carted away in handcuffs, which my cozy author self would prefer. But episodes are getting better. And the best thing for me is the shows are gentle, with
no blood and gore. No creepy factor. Sometimes there’s not even a body. No terrible language. No
awkward sexual stuff. And no bad language. I did have to turn on the subtitles
because some of the British accents make the dialogue hard for me to understand.<o:p></o:p></div>
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All in all, I really like the series. We're going to watch all of them. </div>
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I’d love to hear comments from our readers who have watched
this series. Comment on our Facebook page: <a href="https://bit.ly/2quBydI">Cozy Mystery Magazine</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-59611918385668146252018-09-27T20:15:00.000-05:002018-09-27T20:15:07.710-05:00Interview with Author Roseanna White<br />
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<a href="https://i2.wp.com/www.roseannamwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Roseanna-2018.jpg?resize=218%2C300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://i2.wp.com/www.roseannamwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Roseanna-2018.jpg?resize=218%2C300" width="145" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Roseanna is a
bestselling, Christy Award nominated author</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">with numerous books to her name. I had the pleasure of meeting her recently
when she taught a session at a writers’ conference I attended. The timing couldn’t have
been better—she was my next planned author interview in Cozy Mystery Magazine’s
series about Guideposts continuity mysteries. Without further ado, here’s
Roseanna!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b>Congratulations for
the publication of “Greater Than Gold,” the fourth book in Guideposts mystery
series, Secrets of Wayfarers Inn. I just finished reading this book and <i>really</i> enjoyed it. I liked the way you incorporated
a real event (the Marietta Sternwheel Festival) into your story. </b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The mystery in this
book was based on a lost treasure—jewelry. I know you write a lot of historical
fiction, and I’m sure that entails much research. Was the idea of lost jewelry
based in any way on a true historical fact that you happened upon, or perhaps a
story that you came across in your historical research? I did notice in your
note to the reader at the end of the book that you love treasure stories.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I do indeed! But actually, this treasure plot was one the
team at Guideposts had already come up with as they conceived the series—but I
was super excited when I saw it fell to me to write it! I do love treasure
stories and have written several books that incorporate that theme. So when it
came time to figure out the missing treasure for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Greater Than Gold</i>, I dug a bit into Southern history but mostly
used my imagination to try to figure out what treasure might have been found by
an antique elevator…and what effect it could have on the people who found it
years later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This
mystery series is a collaborative process from beginning to end, which isn’t
the traditional model for writing a book. What was your favorite part or parts
about the collaboration? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i8yeE6Bfp0Q/W61_g5ZOSGI/AAAAAAAAI7g/jcdYYuLIn5gcDwtoWaBdnUmJYgAraC2VQCLcBGAs/s1600/hardcover-3d_copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i8yeE6Bfp0Q/W61_g5ZOSGI/AAAAAAAAI7g/jcdYYuLIn5gcDwtoWaBdnUmJYgAraC2VQCLcBGAs/s200/hardcover-3d_copy.png" width="131" /></a></div>
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It’s been so much fun to get to know the other authors and
brainstorm together! We created a blueprint of the inn based on the descriptions
in book 1 and what we all needed for our stories, which was fun. And I’ve just
loved the group-effort of everything from naming characters to ironing out plot
points so that they remain consistent with everyone else’s stories. It’s a
challenge, but one that has proven fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">How
does writing in a collaborative fashion like this impact your own writing, if
at all? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It hasn’t really had a great impact on how I write my solo
novels…though balancing these books with my other releases requires a lot of dedication
and prioritizing, and I’ve been so blessed to have a family who supports me in
this busy season!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What
is your favorite thing about writing for this series?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That would have to be the friendships forged behind the
scenes with the other authors. The stories themselves are fun too, of course,
but I’ve really appreciated getting to know this amazing team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What
is your favorite thing about the location? Have you visited Marietta, Ohio?
Studied more about it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have been to Marietta, though it was many years ago. I
actually applied to Marietta College back in the day! It’s only about 2 hours
from where I live, so I have a basic familiarity already with things like
climate and landscape. Google Maps has been a huge help refreshing my memory
and filling in the blanks though. (How did people write books before the
internet??)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You are a very busy
person. In addition to writing numerous books, you design book covers,
homeschool your children, and help your husband with his publishing company,
WhiteFire Publishing. Can you tell us a little bit more about your other
pursuits?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Yes, I believe in keeping busy. <span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😉</span>
Between my writing, editing, designing, and homeschooling, I really don’t have
a ton of what you would call free time, LOL. But I do enjoy knitting, reading
(of course!), and baking when time permits. This year those extras have been
rather lacking as I spend so much time writing, but I enjoy them when I can!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Please tell us about
your other recent book releases, where our readers can contact you and find you
online.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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My current historical series, Shadows Over England, was just
completed September 4 with the release of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077M9P1HP/">An Hour Unspent</a></i>
(following book 1, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Name-Shadows-Over-England-Book-ebook/dp/B01MTFX5AL/">A
Name Unknown</a></i> and book 2, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077M9P1HP/">A Song Unheard</a></i>).
The series follows a family of thieves from London into the opening months of
World War I, as they accept jobs from a mysterious man to aid England in the
war.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>It’s been an incredibly fun
series to write, as I learned how arts played a role in the war and explore
themes like heritage, prejudice, and identity and combine them with things like
books, music, and clockmaking.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I also just released an audiobook of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077M9P1HP/">A Heart’s
Revolution</a></i>—originally published as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Love
Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland</i> in 2011. I re-released the paperback with
the new cover and title in March and was excited to bring it to listeners as
well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Blog: <a href="https://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/">https://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RoseannaMWhite/">https://www.facebook.com/RoseannaMWhite/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Pinterest: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/roseannamwhite/">https://www.pinterest.com/roseannamwhite/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/roseannamwhite/">https://www.instagram.com/roseannamwhite/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/RoseannaMWhite">https://twitter.com/RoseannaMWhite</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Website: <a href="http://www.roseannamwhite.com/">http://www.roseannamwhite.com</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-35597560038692272412018-09-05T13:33:00.000-05:002018-09-05T13:33:21.610-05:00One Reason Why I Love Cozy Mysteries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love cozy mysteries. . .okay, I just love mysteries, period. I have since I was a kid. Now I'm privileged to write cozy mysteries. I also watch as many as I can on television, as long as they hold true to what I believe is important to cozy mysteries--no graphic violence. I don't want to go to bed at night with gruesome images of bloody crime scenes in my mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other night, hubby and I watched a 1945 black and white Sherlock Holmes movie starring Basil Rathbone. Although the personality of this particular Sherlock Holmes wasn’t totally in keeping with Doyle’s books, there were many things I liked about the movie, including how the directors handled the violence of the murder, which was done with shadows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The movie had no splattering of blood and guts. No gruesome shots of human innards. The director used the reactions of the characters to portray the horror of the murders. For instance, when a police officer and Sherlock go to the coroner to observe the body, all we see is a woman’s face and sheet-covered body. When the sheet is pulled back, the camera focuses on the police officer’s expression. It’s his reaction to the body that indicates the awfulness of the crime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Traditional cozies don’t show scene upon scene upon scene of the details of the blood, guts, and gore. They don't get deeply into the heads of freaky serial killers. They don't usually show the terror the victims experience as they're being murdered. There might be a brief description of the murder, but the brutality of crime scenes, and the weirdness of the criminals, comes more from the reactions of the characters. And some cozy mysteries have no murder at all, just an interesting crime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other words, I don't have to skip pages in a book or close my eyes until a scene in a movie or TV show is over. That lack of spilling guts and spurting blood is one of the reasons I love cozy mysteries.</span></div>
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Visit me at www.candiceprentice.com</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-25070723291117300282018-08-21T13:43:00.000-05:002018-08-21T13:43:14.655-05:00Interview with Author Tracey Bateman<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Congratulations for the publication of “All That Remains,”
third in the new Guideposts mystery series, “Secrets of Wayfarers Inn.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This Guideposts series is about three friends who buy an old
inn that used to be part of the Underground Railway. The setting is Marietta, Ohio. Did you do any special
research about the Underground Railway in preparation for writing this book? If
so, can you tell us about it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Have you visited Marietta, Ohio? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I haven’t. A couple of the other authors who live a little closer have
and gave us some great input about local businesses and other research
resources that have helped a lot.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How do you like writing what seems to be two stories—the one
in the past about Prudence and the present day story? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I’ve written a lot of historical and contemporary both in my career,
and the era of slavery and the Underground Railroad is a favorite time for me
to study and read about. So it came pretty naturally.</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Also,</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I’ve used the back and
forth method of writing in several of my books over the years, so I enjoy
bringing the past into the present. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I like how you tied the skeleton in the tunnel into the
mystery in historical part of the story as well as the present day part of the
story. Did the idea of the skeleton come from a real event you discovered or
was it something you thought of? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
first three books in the series came with an inciting incident for us to build
on. The brilliant minds at Guideposts had already imagined the skeleton and
photograph in the tunnel. I just let my imagination go and ran with it.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Is this the first book you’ve written for Guideposts? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It is for a continuity series. Back in the
day, I wrote two for the Love Finds You series for Summerside Press before they
closed it down. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This mystery series, like most of the other Guideposts
mystery series, is a collaborative process, from beginning to end, which isn’t
the traditional model for writing a book. What were your favorite parts about
the collaboration? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I think I’m the
squeaky wheel sometimes. LOL I always try to figure out how to take a thread or
character from one of the other authors’ book and draw it into mine, so the
readers feel a sense of recognition from book to book. I’m not sure I succeed,
but I try. The best part of collaboration is seeing the talent from authors I
have never read before. Becky Melby did an UH-mazing job building the
foundation of the characterizations of our three amateur sleuths and the
historical elements of the Inn. I’m a huge fan of hers now as a writer and a person.
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Between her and
Kathleen Y’Barbo (who I have been a fan of and friends with for years) it was
so easy to take what they created and move forward with the character of
Janice. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How does the collaborative process impact your own writing? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Early in my attempt to become a writer, I
connected with critique groups so I’ve always recognized and appreciated the
benefit of brainstorming, feedback and constructive criticism. So,
collaborating is right in my lane. In a series like this, we have to try to
communicate so that we keep the consistency in characterizations, secondary
characters, and events surrounding the inn. Hopefully, we’ve accomplished that.
It’s fun to take what others imagine and build and it’s also fun to create
something and see how others build from their own experience and imagination.
You just can’t hold too tightly to your own ideas and try to control someone
else’s process. Being flexible and willing to work as a team is easy for me. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>You and I talked a little bit about your character, Janice
Eastman, and how her personality developed in the book—which I thoroughly
enjoyed, by the way. Can you talk about that a little bit? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Well, Janice was an existing core member of the trio of ladies, and she
had personality traits and life experiences that were already established when
I got my hands on her. I was privileged to be the one to take what Becky and
Kathleen had already begun, and make her into a flesh and blood character. They
had already made her fun and quirky and fearful. The lovable “little sister”
character. But as she was written, she couldn’t really carry a whole book from
her point of view. So, I wanted to know why she was those things. I took her
deeper than her quirks, because as individuals, we are the sum of dark and
light, deep and surface. She was a pastor’s wife for thirty years, a teacher,
and raised two kids. She had to be more than a scardy cat with a few screws
loose. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings";"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> With her husband gone,
she’s not a pastor’s wife anymore, and she’s just retired from teaching, so two
huge pieces of her identity puzzle have been removed. I wanted to explore who
she is deep down and let her establish her identity as a strong widow, part
business owner, and mom and grandmother. I loved getting to know her.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Did you get to know your character Janice as you wrote the
book or did you have her pretty much fleshed out before you began? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">For me, I learn my characters the way I
learn the new people in my life. I just ask questions and let the answers
unfold. I had to work a bit to find some of her answers. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Did you come up with the title, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All that Remains, </i>or was it assigned to you<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">? </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It was assigned. But I
couldn’t have come up with a more appropriate title in a million years. Not
only did the existing title help me plot the book, but it also gave me the
theme.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>In the reader’s note at the end of the book, you posed the
question, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what is left when our identity is
suddenly gone? . . .</i>And your answer gave me goosebumps. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When you are stripped to nothing, all that
remains is this: you and Jesus. . .</i>That was beautiful. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thank you. I’ve gone through my own “stripping” over the last couple of
years and found that this was the perfect book for me to write. God used it to
speak some real truths to me and deepen my personal relationship with Him. I
always tend to pass my lessons along. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do you have a website and/or Facebook page where people can
find you? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My website is being
redone—slowly—but Facebook is a good place to find me. Or email.
Author4god@gmail.com<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you, Tracey! I look forward to your next book in the series!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>You can find Tracey's book at this link: <a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/secrets-of-wayfarers-inn/all-that-remains.html">All That Remains</a></b></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-25278901499599918802018-08-13T12:16:00.000-05:002018-08-13T12:16:20.017-05:00Cozy Pecan Cobbler - Good Anytime!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAF1YiD5b7s7m_lrvykMm_URKJdvgH9Wu4Ys7mcyDYPyrzaOXJKdt5AKxfgcZbc_86vxpq2rq4CCFqYIlWAHpVFU_BQ7fA5JIkZ9okn04QqCllhkpq1-bjxqMM56YAKCiU01EPKhIAVS9/s1600/IMG-2089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="368" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAF1YiD5b7s7m_lrvykMm_URKJdvgH9Wu4Ys7mcyDYPyrzaOXJKdt5AKxfgcZbc_86vxpq2rq4CCFqYIlWAHpVFU_BQ7fA5JIkZ9okn04QqCllhkpq1-bjxqMM56YAKCiU01EPKhIAVS9/s320/IMG-2089.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>This decadent Southern dessert recipe is super easy to make. The cobbler and sauce are created in one pan. The luscious, velvety texture makes the perfect bite...after bite...after bite! Great with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Serve anytime of the year as a husband or crowd pleaser, or personal treat for sure!</b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Note: This is such a rich dessert that for the two of us I cut the recipe in half and make in an 8x8 inch pan. Please let us know how you like it!</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">PECAN COBBLER from Nancy Jill Thames</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">prep</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> 5 minutes cook 30
minutes total 35 mins<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">yield</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> 8 servings<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Ingredients</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">6 tablespoon butter (no substitutions)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1 cup pecans<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1 and 1/2 cup self-rising flour<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1 cup of all-purpose
flour with 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Adjust to
11/2c<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1 and 1/2 cup granulated sugar<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">2/3 cup milk (more if needed)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1 teaspoon vanilla<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1 and 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Instructions</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 350
degrees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Add butter to a 9x13
inch cake pan or casserole dish and melt in the oven.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Once butter is melted,
sprinkle the pecans over butter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In a bowl, mix flour,
sugar, milk and vanilla. Stir to combine, but don't over-mix.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Pour batter over
butter and pecans, do not mix.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">6.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Sprinkle brown sugar
evenly over batter, do not stir.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">7.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Carefully pour the hot
water over the mixture; do not stir.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">8.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Bake 30 to 35 minutes
or until golden brown.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Notes</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I recommend using real
butter only<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I do not recommend
reducing either the brown sugar or the hot water<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I do not recommend reducing
the amount of butter<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I used whole
milk. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">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 <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Murder in Half Moon</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bay</span></i>,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>introducing her well-loved protagonist Jillian Bradley and clue-sniffing Yorkie “Teddy.”</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynbP89AjWS4EPvBrP7SbM75X9dO3rV-LNWUtnVusx5215NcbSwNdEoWtkLp0Mq7U_psLc2_ybhWeXV2CR66aepfIk92KfI9kA58EiPea7FwCLT_GR0dAgvBdn36-pGYKeIyIOTTu3Ao_n/s1600/IMG_1796.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1363" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynbP89AjWS4EPvBrP7SbM75X9dO3rV-LNWUtnVusx5215NcbSwNdEoWtkLp0Mq7U_psLc2_ybhWeXV2CR66aepfIk92KfI9kA58EiPea7FwCLT_GR0dAgvBdn36-pGYKeIyIOTTu3Ao_n/s320/IMG_1796.jpeg" width="272" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">After writing eleven books and a short story collection, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">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.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">She lives with her husband in Texas and is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) CenTex Chapter.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">To learn more about Nancy Jill, visit these sites. </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Nancy-Jill-Thames-124340760960323/timeline/">Facebook</a></b><b></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/mystriterdva"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.nancyjillthames.com/">Website</a></span></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/mystriterdva/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pinterest</span></a></b></div>
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Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-83810484095651720602018-07-30T10:52:00.000-05:002018-07-30T11:03:38.208-05:00Interview with Author Kathleen Y'Barbo<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pEOcj0Garis/W18xoPzHKOI/AAAAAAAAIaM/74x9NA-M4os5moOw9_pPBpSboQtIrRHZACLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0135%2B%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="481" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pEOcj0Garis/W18xoPzHKOI/AAAAAAAAIaM/74x9NA-M4os5moOw9_pPBpSboQtIrRHZACLcBGAs/s320/DSC_0135%2B%25281%2529.jpeg" width="271" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kathleen, congratulations for the publication of <i>River of Life</i> in
the new Guideposts mystery series, <a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/secrets-of-wayfarers-inn.html">“Secrets of Wayfarers Inn.”</a> I loved this warm and funny book! One particular phrase you used made me laugh out
loud—creepy peeper! And then there are quilts. I am a quilter, so anything with
quilts has my attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This Guideposts mystery series is about three friends who buy an old
inn that used to be part of the Underground Railway. Did you do any special
research about the Underground Railway in preparation for writing this book? If
so, can you tell us about it?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Yes, I knew a little about the Underground Railroad, but I
had no idea how extensive the system was and specifically how it worked in
practice. I read everything I could get my hands on in regard to the topic in
general and to the activities that happened specifically in the Marietta, Ohio
area. My favorite research book of all is called <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Images of America: Washington County Underground Railroad</span> by Henry
Robert Burke and Charles Hart Fogle.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Was the quilt in the book based on historical fact? Were
there really quilts like this one?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>The quilt in the book was a complete figment of my
imagination. I come from a very long line of quilters, both on my mother’s and
my father’s side, and I have done some quilting of my own. So, while I am
familiar with the process of quilting, I had to study up on the history of it.
I was surprised to learn that one myth in regard to quilts and the Underground
Railroad, namely that the UR used types of quilts or the positioning of quilts
on a clothesline or fence as a signal, is false. I had no idea.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This mystery series is a collaborative process, from
beginning to end, which isn’t the traditional model for writing a book. What
was your favorite part(s) about the collaboration? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Yes it is definitely a collaborative process. This book is
the second in the series, so all I had to do in <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">River of Life</span> was to make sure my story facts did not conflict with
anything that was written in book 1, which wasn’t terribly difficult. However,
I just finished book 10, and that was a whole lot more complicated. My favorite
part of this is the creativity of the other participants and how we are all
working together to make this series awesome. For example, in book 10, I pick
up a plot thread from book 4 and run with it. I would never have written that
part of the story without the creative input of the other authors. Also, I have
to give a shout out to the Guideposts team. Several of the GP folks are active
participants in our discussions and do a great job of not only keeping us up on
the latest plot points but also cheering us on and coming up with some pretty
great ideas themselves.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How does the collaborative process impact your own writing?</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Iron sharpens iron. I write better because they are all so
amazing. Not only do their insights help my story, but as I just mentioned,
their creativity sparks my own.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What is your favorite thing about writing for the series?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love my team! They are the absolute best. We are all
having a great time writing these stories, and I believe it shows in the books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Have you written any other books in other Guideposts series?
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>No, this is my first series, but I hope to do more in the future.
Working with this team of editors and publishing pros is way too much fun not
to want to do it again.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What is your favorite thing about the location(s)? Have you
visited this location? Studied more about it? Please tell me a little bit about
it.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Unfortunately, while I have been to Ohio several times, I
have never visited Marietta. However, I feel like I know the city inside out
after all the research, writing, and conversations with locals. What I can tell
you is it’s a beautiful riverside city with such an amazing and deep history.
Seeing all of this myself is on my bucket list.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What are your favorite things about the main character(s)?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Oh, I love the Inn Crowd, as they call themselves. These
ladies are brave, spunky, and devoted to one another and the Lord. They all
make major changes relatively late in life in order to go for a dream that at
least one of them never expected would come true. They’re fun, they’re loyal,
and they are true to their motto: Never be boring!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do you write other books? What are they?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Yes, I do. I write clean contemporary and historical romance
and romantic mysteries for the inspirational market. I have two new historical releases,
The Pirate Bride (set in 1700s New Orleans and the Caribbean) and My Heart
Belongs in Galveston, Texas (set in 1880s Galveston and New Orleans) and am
working on several more books that will come out in 2019.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do you have a website and/or Facebook page where people can
find you?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My website is <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.kathleenybarbo.com/">www.kathleenybarbo.com</a></span>.
Facebook is <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/kathleen.ybarbo">www.facebook.com/kathleen.ybarbo</a></span>.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bestselling author <b>Kathleen Y’Barbo</b> is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee and
author of more than ninety books with almost two million copies of her books in
print in the US and abroad. A tenth-generation Texan and certified paralegal,
she has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award as well a Reader’s Choice
Award and several Top Picks by <i>Romantic
Times</i> magazine. She is a member of ACFW, Novelists Inc., and the Texas Bar
Association Paralegal Division.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Kathleen</b> celebrated
her fifteenth year as a published author by receiving the <i>Romantic Times</i> Inspirational Romance Book of the Year Award for her
historical romantic suspense <b><i>Sadie’s Secret, </i></b>a <i>Secret Lives of Will Tucker </i>novel. Her
novels celebrate life, love and the Lord—and whenever she can manage it, her
home state of Texas. Recent releases include
<b>The Pirate Bride </b>and <b>My Heart Belongs in Galveston, Texas.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To find out more about<b> Kathleen</b> or connect with her through social media, check out her
website at <u><span style="color: #1f449a;"><a href="http://www.kathleenybarbo.com/"><span style="color: #1f449a;">www.kathleenybarbo.com</span></a></span></u>.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-36108886846761967132018-07-21T13:45:00.001-05:002018-07-30T11:03:56.658-05:00Interview With Author Becky Melby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Becky, congratulations for the publication of “Family Secrets,” the first book in the new Guideposts mystery series, <a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/secrets-of-wayfarers-inn.html">“Secrets of Wayfarers Inn.” </a>I read it, and I loved it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The premise of this new series is fascinating--three woman who buy an old inn that used to be part of the Underground Railroad. What an opportunity for mysteries to be solved! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From beginning to end, these mysteries are a joint effort, from the Guideposts marketing team to the editorial staff to the authors, and more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>For you, as an author, how has this collaboration impacted your writing? How does writing Guideposts continuities differ from writing other books?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I’m finding this collaborative writing both a challenge and a lot more fun. The writing life can be lonely—just the author alone with all the imaginary people in her head. I’m really enjoying working with other writers who know the characters in the same way I do. The challenge comes from needing to know what those characters have done in every book leading up to the one I’m currently working on. We have a Facebook group for posting questions and comments. Almost every day someone pops in with things like: “Is Paige’s baby going to be a boy or a girl?” “What time do they lock the inn doors at night?” “Did Prudence have any siblings?” If I get stuck on a plot point, it’s wonderful to have the rest of the team to help in the brainstorming process. </i></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QR13kyCwZok/W1KDTDFxc1I/AAAAAAAAIWM/snclvF7CXMQHaVFh-WJJrB26MeijkgK0gCLcBGAs/s1600/swi1-family_secrets-3d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QR13kyCwZok/W1KDTDFxc1I/AAAAAAAAIWM/snclvF7CXMQHaVFh-WJJrB26MeijkgK0gCLcBGAs/s320/swi1-family_secrets-3d.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What is your favorite thing about writing for the "Secrets of Wayfarers Inn" series? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>When I write a stand-alone book or even a short series, along with the celebration when I write the final word is always some sadness. I hate saying good-bye to characters who have become friends and settings that feel like home. In a continuity series, I get to hang out in this happy, familiar place with my “friends” for so much longer. Add in the benefit of hashing out ideas with seven other authors and using their stories as springboards for mine, and it’s just a wonderful, stretching, fun experience.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>These books take place in present time and in the past. Do you write both contemporary and historical books? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I generally write contemporary stories. Though I’ve never written a purely historical novel, I do have a three-book time-slip series. (My Lost Sanctuary Series is currently out of print but I’m working on a re-release that should be available this fall.) I love writing stories with contemporary and historical threads running side-by-side—especially when both stories are set in the same location and are connected by a mystery that needs to be solved by the present-time characters. Imagining our historical character, Prudence Willard, touching the same mushroom-shaped newel post our present-day characters admired on their first visit to the inn, sparks so many intriguing questions. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Have you written any other books in other Guideposts series? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>This is my first experience with Guideposts. I feel so blessed to be involved in this project and couldn’t be happier with the close relationship we have with the editors. They are always available and willing to offer advice. And it’s been such a joy getting to know some of the Guideposts’ readers. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What is your favorite thing about the location? Have you visited this location? If so, please tell me a little bit about it. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>My husband and I enjoyed a wonderful visit to Marietta, Ohio in October. I fell in love with the historic downtown with its cobblestone streets and redbrick buildings. We took a sternwheeler riverboat ride, enjoyed coffee and a delicious gluten-free sugar cookie at Jeremiah’s Coffee House—an inviting, eclectic place with delightfully mismatched furniture and wonderful aromas. We had lunch at the Levee House Café, a restaurant (sadly now closed) with a pressed tin ceiling and incredible food located in the historic building that served as the inspiration for Wayfarers Inn. I was honored to spend a morning chatting with Harley Noland, the owner of the building. His knowledge of the town’s rich heritage made Marietta’s history come alive. I could so easily imagine sitting on a porch swing in front of Wayfarers Inn, sipping tea and leisurely observing life on the Ohio river with Tess, Janice and LuAnn. We hope to return to explore even more of the town’s history and mystery. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Note: we've included some pictures below of Marietta, Ohio that Becky took on her trip.</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What are your favorite things about the main character(s) of the Guideposts books you write? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I really love writing about women in the same life season I’m in. A woman in her sixties has worked through a lot of the things that trouble us in our younger years and is often free to be a bit bolder and more adventurous. LuAnn, Tess, and Janice are allowing God to reinvent their lives. Though two are recently widowed and living with a backdrop of grieving, they are open to taking on a new adventure. Though Janice deals with a lot of fears and phobias, I love how she forces herself to step out in faith in spite of anxiety. LuAnn is the list-maker and loves being organized. She’s learned to laugh at herself when the others call her out for being a bit too much of a planner. Tess has a feisty streak. I envy how easily she speaks her mind. Though the women sometimes wrestle with regret and the “what ifs” we all deal with, they share a determination to not be stagnant, to be true to a pledge they made to each other in college—“We will never act our age and never be bored or boring.” I love writing women who are flawed and human but amazing role models.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What other books have you written? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I have written eighteen titles to date, some co-authored and some solo. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working on a few novellas in collections with other authors. My books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christianbooks.com. Anyone interested in the updated version of the Lost Sanctuary Series can sign up for updates on my website. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do you have a website and/or Facebook page where people can find you? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Come and visit me at <a href="http://www.beckymelby.com/">www.beckymelby.com</a>. I’m on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Becky-Melby-Author-Page-147542291976020/">https://www.facebook.com/Becky-Melby-Author-Page-147542291976020/</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/becky.f.melby">https://www.facebook.com/becky.f.melby</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Thank you, Candice, for the opportunity to talk about "Family Secrets" and the "Secrets of Wayfarers Inn" series.</i></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-23934931081983610382018-07-13T19:24:00.000-05:002018-10-29T19:09:36.023-05:00Guideposts Continuity Mysteries, Part Two<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last week I introduced our readers to the Guideposts continuity mysteries. (Find <a href="https://cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com/2018/07/guideposts-continuity-mysteries-part-one.html">Part One</a> here). This week I’m delving deeper into my behind-the-scenes look at how the Guideposts team develops the series and how they find authors to write the books. In addition, I’ll let you in on how they develop those gorgeous book covers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the traditional publishing model, the idea for a book series usually comes from one author. Ideas for the Guideposts continuity series are created by Guideposts’ editorial, marketing, and research teams, with input from other Guideposts departments. That’s followed by input from outside sources. A totally collaborative effort.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I asked the editorial team to tell me more. “Guideposts puts its series concepts through a gauntlet of consumer testing and uses a panel of readers to help guide us to the concepts that intrigue them most and help us refine those ideas before they ever see the light of day.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Typically, we’ll have created, and tested, anywhere from three to six story ideas—not yet fully fleshed out—by the time we begin contracting a team of authors. After those ideas are developed into stories, we will then work with the individual authors to settle on plots for their books that are unique and interesting.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Did you notice that little sentence in the last paragraph about contracting a team of authors? That leads me to the next step in the collaborative effort. Unlike the usual publishing process, where a series is written by a single author, each Guideposts continuity mystery series is written by a team of authors who write on an ten-book rotation basis. That means a series typically contains books by a team of eight (sometimes more) authors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, how in the world does the editorial team go about picking a team of authors to write a book series? Do the authors apply? Send resumes? Take a test? I asked and here’s what I found out. “We do a sort of ‘reverse acquisition’ process to find authors. In a traditional publishing model, an author’s agent might approach us about publishing his or her client’s book(s). In our model, we contact trusted agents to find out if they have authors whose style and skills might be a good fit for Guideposts fiction in general and a specific series in particular. We look for authors who have been published already and have a proven track record of producing books, but beyond that, we look for collaborative, enthusiastic, and creative writers who can meet deadlines and know how to write for our readership.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To those of us familiar with the traditional publishing model, this might seem weird, but it’s a concept that works beautifully. In fact, cozy readers who sharpened their childhood reading skills on Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys have already experienced this type of collaborative work. The authors of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries wrote under pseudonyms Carolyn Keene and Franklin W. Dixon, respectively. The big difference here is that Guideposts generally puts each author’s name on the cover, though some series have used a collective pen name </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And there’s a big benefit to readers when a series is collaboratively written—readers don’t have to wait months for the next installment of their favorite mysteries. Most authors cannot, by themselves, write a new book every month, and do it well. A group of authors easily can, and with the collaborative model used by Guideposts, readers can receive a book a month, keeping up with their favorite characters in a timely fashion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I did wonder how so many different authors could write the same characters, be consistent, and keep track of all the facts. By facts, I mean things like the characters’ favorite beverages or eye colors and habits. That’s hard enough to do when a series is written by one author. Well, it’s not as hard as you would think. Senior Editor Susan Downs explains. “Over the course of the series, we create and add to a series guide, which can easily reach 20 to 30 pages, or more, by the time the series ends. (Some publishers call it the series bible.) Authors can access it to find answers to many questions such as characters’ personality and physical traits and habits, previous plot lines and developments, information about the settings, and more. Each series has an editor—called the series editor—who oversees and manages the continuity aspects of the series. And we also have private online forums for the authors and editors through which they can compare notes, ask questions, and post photos and information that might be helpful to the other authors. It is a very collaborative process.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the stand-out features of all the Guideposts fiction is the artwork on the covers of the books. Even the spines are detailed and well done. Each series has its own “look,” and they’re pretty on the shelf. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s80PmwBsZVk/W0i1gJSBM_I/AAAAAAAAIS0/QUdf3klV_VYDKcs0QGMsWsb60fWiMoDPgCLcBGAs/s1600/Spines%2Bof%2BGuideposts%2BMysteries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s80PmwBsZVk/W0i1gJSBM_I/AAAAAAAAIS0/QUdf3klV_VYDKcs0QGMsWsb60fWiMoDPgCLcBGAs/s320/Spines%2Bof%2BGuideposts%2BMysteries.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Turns out, this is also a collaborative effort. No big surprise, right? Here’s how it works. First, the Guideposts’ in-house editorial team puts together cover ideas that fit the stories and would appeal to the reader.” Then an artist, represented by Deborah Wolfe, Ltd., takes the basic concepts and breathes life into them. After that, Mullerhaus, a team of designers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, does the final cover design.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m an author, and I know how much work goes into the publication of one book, but the amount of collaboration in Guideposts mysteries surprised me. It’s different than what I’ve seen in my experience, but it works beautifully. And I’m grateful, a fact attested by the growing collection of Guideposts mysteries on my bookshelf. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next week I’ll begin interviews with some of the authors, so stay tuned! And if you haven't yet visited the Guideposts website, you can find all their <a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365.html">fiction book series here</a> or go to the links below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Church Choir Mysteries (out of print)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mysteries of Sparrow Island (out of print)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mystery and the Minister’s Wife (out of print)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=172">Tales from Grace Chapel Inn (non-mystery series)</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=181" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home to Heather Creek (non-mystery series)</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=173">Stories from Hope Haven (non-mystery series)</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=169">Patchwork Mysteries</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=174">Miracles of Marble Cove</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=168">Secrets of Mary’s Bookshop</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=167">Secrets of the Blue Hill Library</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=238">Mysteries of Silver Peak</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/sugarcreekamishmysteries-32454.html">Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/mysteries-of-martha-s-vineyard.html">Mysteries of Martha's Vineyard</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=299">Tearoom Mysteries</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/secrets-of-wayfarers-inn.html">Secrets of Wayfarers Inn</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Note: </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> will wrap up the summer of 2018, with 30 volumes in the set. </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Mysteries of Martha’s Vineyard</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> is at about the mid-point in its publishing cycle. The last of 25 books in the </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Tearoom Mysteries </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">released in June 2018. </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Secrets of Wayfarers Inn</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> is a new series, just launched this summer.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com/2018/07/guideposts-continuity-mysteries-part-one.html">Click here for part one.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OF2EtciqNNI/WzaZ1zMLLtI/AAAAAAAAILA/pgVApKQ8WDYVsE9C9BP2bGDv4ZxjzFEqwCLcBGAs/s400/Bio%2Bfor%2Bbottom%2Bof%2Bblog%2Barticles.png" /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-81234125520754479932018-07-02T07:39:00.000-05:002018-10-29T19:08:39.199-05:00Guideposts Continuity Mysteries - Part One<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DHHPfRuYvdY/WzaRiN8rRAI/AAAAAAAAIK0/nwtvBV7R2-QexsMLpJz2P0lziQzoTq1aACLcBGAs/s1600/Guideposts%2BContinuity%2BMysteries%2BPart%2BOne.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DHHPfRuYvdY/WzaRiN8rRAI/AAAAAAAAIK0/nwtvBV7R2-QexsMLpJz2P0lziQzoTq1aACLcBGAs/s320/Guideposts%2BContinuity%2BMysteries%2BPart%2BOne.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Engaging characters . . . Fascinating settings . . . Faith .
. . These are three of the ingredients that make up all of the Guideposts continuity
series. Add intriguing whodunits, and you’ve got the recipe for Guideposts
continuity mysteries. The icing on the cake? Books in each of the series are
released monthly—no waiting for months to revisit your favorite characters. And
if that wasn’t enough, there are enough books in each series to keep an avid reader
supplied for a long time. There is one downside, though. When a series ends,
you’ll be so invested in the characters you might go through a period of
mourning, but that’s okay! There are a lot more series in the Guideposts continuity
line-up. And new books and new series keep coming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, what is a continuity mystery, you ask? I wondered that, too, and I asked the in-house editorial team at Guideposts, Susan Downs, Jon Woodhams, and Caroline Cilento, to explain. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> “A continuity is any
series of books that shares the same premise, setting, and cast of characters.
The most familiar metaphor might be a TV series. While there are often guest
stars and walk-on secondary characters, most of the actors in the series are
the same from week to week, and you get to know them over the course of the
series. Our continuity books are the same way, except that readers get one book
every four weeks.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That makes sense! People love following characters on TV and
in books. We develop a vested interest and eagerly wait to find out what
they’ll do next. My favorite characters are those that I want to get to know
over a cup of coffee. Guideposts continuities characters are just like that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Setting is an important part of any good story, and the Guideposts
mysteries settings are characters in their own right. For instance, one of the
series is set in Martha’s Vineyard, aptly called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mysteries of Martha’s Vineyard</i>, and the heroine’s home is a lighthouse.
How cool is that? Another series, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sugarcreek
Amish Mysteries</i>, takes place in (you guessed it!) beautiful Amish country,
complete with quilts and Amish food. Seriously, the name “Sugarcreek” is enough
to make you want pie. Then there’s the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tearoom
Mysteries</i>, set in a stately Victorian home-turned tearoom in a charming
lakeside town in Maine. Tea and an old Victorian home--the perfect combo. The latest series is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets of Wayfarers Inn</i>, about three
friends who buy a historic hotel that was once a stop on the Underground
Railroad. It’s got secret passages and an old journal—secrets, past and present.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I asked the editorial team how the settings for each mystery
series are picked. They said, “Our readers have made it clear that they love to
read about places that would be their dream hometowns. They love to be swept
away to cozy, charming locations where they can see themselves visiting
favorite shops, sipping tea or coffee in a cozy café, or attending a concert in
a town square. So, locations—either real or fictional—are chosen because of
their appeal. Our series have taken readers to islands, the Rocky Mountains,
lake towns, Amish communities, the rocky coast of Maine, and more.” So, how
about a little vacation from the comfort of your favorite chair? You won’t have
to spend a dime on gas while you enjoy the sights. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I first began to familiarize myself with Guideposts’ mystery
continuities, I realized there were no murders. Yes, I know! I can hear my
fellow cozy lovers exclaiming now, “What? Really? Mysteries with no dead
people? Is that even possible?” Yes, it is, and to be honest, I found the
change surprisingly refreshing. I asked Susan Downs why this was so. She told me,
“Guideposts’ fans prefer ‘softer’ crimes. The publisher sticks with missing
people or things or mistaken identities or white-collar crimes.” No worries,
though. You won’t miss the bodies or the murderers. The sleuths in these books
still have plenty of motivation to solve mysteries. Like, for instance, trying
to figure out why a ghostly, but very human, apparition appears at night <a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365/maiden-of-the-mist-mysteries-of-martha-s-vineyard-book-4.html">near a lighthouse</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These lovely Guideposts mysteries aren’t available on
Amazon. However, they can be purchased through the <a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365.html">Guideposts’ website</a>. And readers who love getting books
in the mail every month can purchase a series subscription. No need to remember
to buy a book—it comes right to your mailbox! Everyone loves a package. I do,
too, especially when it contains books. When I get one, the rest of the day, I anticipate
curling up in my chair or bed and settling in for a few hours with my favorite
characters. And with these mysteries, you won’t need to read slowly just to
make the book last (although you can), because when you’ve finished one
mystery, you know another one is on its way in just a few weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I inquired why Guideposts doesn’t market its books
through Amazon, the editorial team said, “Guideposts is both a publisher and a
direct-marketing company. We send detailed, multi-piece mailers to thousands
and thousands of potential customers to market our series. The mailers include
such elements as a sample chapter, a letter from the editor, a colorful
brochure, and more. Customers can opt in by returning a postage-paid mailing
piece. This accounts for the majority of our sales, but our books are also
available—both in print and as e-books—on our <a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365.html">website</a>.
We are also striving to grow an integrated marketing approach via social media
and alternative media avenues.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I finish typing
this article, I’m looking at the beautiful cover of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Family Secrets</i>, which is book one in Guideposts’ latest continuity
series, <a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/secrets-of-wayfarers-inn.html"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets of Wayfarers Inn</i>.</a> I
just finished it, and I’m in love with this series already. Really, I just want
to hug this book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The best thing about Guideposts’ continuity mysteries
(besides everything I already mentioned), is the way they leave me feeling.
Happy. Hopeful. Warm. When I have a day where I can’t seem to escape the barrage
of bad stuff that seems so prevalent in the world of late, settling down to
read a gentle mystery is comforting. I can ignore the latest dramas on the
Internet, snuggle in my favorite chair with a cup of tea, and just relax.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve got a lot more to tell you about Guideposts mysteries,
including additional details about the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets
of Wayfarers Inn.</i> I also want to share where those stunning covers
originate and who the talented authors are. Next I’ll be going behind the
scenes to give our readers a closer look at how the series are developed and
how the authors are chosen. It’s not the usual publication process, so stay
tuned. Meantime, if you want to check out all the Guideposts continuity mysteries and
get your own book to hug, below is a list of the series in order, with links. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Church Choir Mysteries (out of print)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mysteries of Sparrow Island (out of print)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mystery and the Minister’s Wife (out of print)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=172">Tales from Grace Chapel Inn (non-mystery series)</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=181" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home to Heather Creek (non-mystery series)</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=173">Stories from Hope Haven (non-mystery series) </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=169">Patchwork Mysteries</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=174">Miracles of Marble Cove</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=168">Secrets of Mary’s Bookshop</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=167">Secrets of the Blue Hill Library</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=238">Mysteries of Silver Peak</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/sugarcreekamishmysteries-32454.html">Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/mysteries-of-martha-s-vineyard.html">Mysteries of Martha's Vineyard</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/fiction-5365?cat=299">Tearoom Mysteries</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/secrets-of-wayfarers-inn.html">Secrets of Wayfarers Inn</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Note: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries</i> will wrap up the summer of 2018, with 30 volumes in the set. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mysteries of Martha’s Vineyard</i> is at about the mid-point in its
publishing cycle. The last of 25 books in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tearoom Mysteries </i>released in June 2018. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets of Wayfarers Inn</i> is a new series, just launched this
summer. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com/2018/07/guideposts-continuity-mysteries-part-two.html">Click here for part two.</a></span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-34110022145059499832018-06-23T12:07:00.000-05:002018-06-23T12:07:11.954-05:00Interview With Author Cynthia Hickey<br />
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I’ve known Cynthia Hickey for at least ten years. She’s a
fellow cozy author, a member of this blog, conference speaker, and she owns Forget Me Not Romances,
a small press that publishes clean and Christian fiction, including four of my
books. (Check it out here: <a href="http://forgetmenotromances.com/">Forget Me Not Romances</a>)<span style="color: red;"> </span>Cynthia has sold over a million copies of her works since 2013. That's a lot of books!</div>
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Cynthia’s no nonsense, get ‘er done attitude inspires me.
And while she gets more done in a day than I think is humanly possible, she’s
always there to patiently answer any of my questions. If you want a straight
answer, you’ll get it from her. So, it’s my pleasure to introduce her to our
readers who don’t know her, and perhaps give those who do know her some new,
inside information.</div>
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<b>Cynthia, can you give us a list of your cozies?</b> </div>
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Wow. I have several, starting with my first, the Summer
Meadows Mysteries and my fifth series, Hollywood Murders. My sets include, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Meadows-Christian-Mystery-Volumes-ebook/dp/B00TFYX0V8">The Summer Meadows Mysteries</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TG011QM/">The River Valley Mysteries</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nosy-Neighbor-complete-mysteries-Christmas-ebook/dp/B018MXJRH8">The Nosy Neighbor Series</a>,
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shady-Acres-Mysteries-All-mysteries-ebook/dp/B072HWT6QJ">The Shady Acres Mysteries</a>, and now <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Pose-Hollywood-Murder-Book-ebook/dp/B07D1C6YBT">Hollywood Murders</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>What is your favorite thing about cozy mysteries? </b></div>
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It has
to be the quirky characters and how the sleuth sometimes gets drawn into
solving the mystery despite a reluctance to get involved.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>You wear many hats. Author. Publisher. Cover designer.
Wife. Mom. Daughter. Artist. How do you schedule your day and guard your time
to make sure you get everything done, but give yourself a break at the same
time? </b></div>
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I’m queen of the list makers. When I get through that list, I oil paint <span style="font-family: "segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cynthia's First Painting</td></tr>
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<b>Tell us a little bit about your art. . .for instance,
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I really didn’t know I could paint. I went with my mother to
her painting group and saw where one of the other ladies had painted the house
she grew up in. I decided to go big and paint my grandmother’s house. Once I
realized I could, I haven’t stopped.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>What is your favorite Scripture verse and why?</b> </div>
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Philippians 3:14. Can any of us do anything without Jesus?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>What is your favorite part of being an author? Your least
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Writing! Least favorite…marketing. Bleh<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woBlivgPkck/Wy52hQdmRFI/AAAAAAAAIHE/_s20zlwFoa0l0J6aDAOxSkzYWzcl7qF_ACLcBGAs/s1600/Killer%2BSnapshot%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1153" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woBlivgPkck/Wy52hQdmRFI/AAAAAAAAIHE/_s20zlwFoa0l0J6aDAOxSkzYWzcl7qF_ACLcBGAs/s200/Killer%2BSnapshot%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="143" /></a><b>What is the name of your latest book? I believe it’s a
romantic suspense about a Hollywood photographer, and it’s book 2 in a series?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Killer Snapshot. Yes, it’s book two. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Pose-Hollywood-Murder-Book-ebook/dp/B07D1C6YBT">Killer Pose</a> is book
one. This series revolves around a reluctant actress who actually wants to be a
photo journalist. She films celebrity pets and paparazzi photos in between
films. I’m having fun with it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>How can people contact you and sign up for your
newsletter? </b></div>
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Visit my website at <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.cynthiahickey.com/">www.cynthiahickey.com</a></span> or go <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://cynthiahickey.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter-to-keep-uptodate-on-news-and-new-releases/">here</a></span>
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No Dream is too big. If you want something bad enough,
you’ll work to obtain it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6045092226099490038.post-60252655479268407732017-09-11T09:46:00.001-05:002017-09-11T17:40:07.171-05:00And Now, for the Rest of the Story - Book 11 "Museums Can Be Murder"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My Visit to the MET</b></td></tr>
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<b>As we begin the fall season, giving us more indoor time for reading, it gives me great pleasure to launch the latest book in the Jillian Bradley Mystery Series. It was such fun to visit New York in preparation to write <i>Museums Can Be Murder</i>, especially the Metropolitan Museum of Art. My husband and I are both art lovers, and we loved visiting the MET so much we went back the next day to drink in more.</b><br />
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<b>There is a romantic interest in this book that was especially fun to gather background for by my husband and I. At one point, Jillian stays at The Lucerne Hotel which has a cozy French restaurant called Nice Matin, located next door. The cafe has a private entrance leading from the hotel.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Charming Lucerne Hotel</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Enjoying the French Cuisine of Nice Matin</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Nice Matin Before the Evening Rush</b></td></tr>
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<b>In addition to romantic meals at Nice Matin, Jillian enjoys the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, especially the Nativity Scene, and watching the ice skaters in Central Park, just a few sites she experiences in New York City.</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <b>Nativity Scene from the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ice Skaters in Central Park</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Museums-Can-Be-Murder-Jillian-ebook/dp/B075885R5R">Amazon</a> <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/museums-can-be-murder-book-11">Kobo</a> <a href="https://m.barnesandnoble.com/s/Museums+Can+Be+Murder">Barnes and Noble</a> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/museums-can-be-murder-book-11/id1278630364?mt=11">iBooks</a> and <a href="http://ow.ly/OGSE30ePg38">Smashwords</a> </b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Museums Can Be Murder</i></span></b></div>
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<b>The Christmas holidays get a morbid start when Jillian Bradley's niece Kaitlin Romero discovers the body of her boss at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. An envelope containing rare Charles Dickens illustrations is missing, and Detective Mickey Wells must reluctantly rely on Jillian's help to solve the crime. </b><br />
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<b>The case goes international when the vendor of the illustrations is murdered and linked to possible fraud. As always, Jillian's Yorkie companion Teddy helps solve the case by discovering an important clue. Afternoon tea included!</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ybV2Pp0kvFletaBHPs9oqPfUmHIKDiG9HDqitoFS6ToUUWWdlRZZiwKse5Xusc5fSNtDNgeQxDhPslBYp6Qf1AOSt3ErGLQfJiCuwMrGQhucWzw2rIy4VynF0ljgwdc6FMJjAET8CPo2/s1600/The+Jillian+Bradley+Short+Story+Collection+cover.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ybV2Pp0kvFletaBHPs9oqPfUmHIKDiG9HDqitoFS6ToUUWWdlRZZiwKse5Xusc5fSNtDNgeQxDhPslBYp6Qf1AOSt3ErGLQfJiCuwMrGQhucWzw2rIy4VynF0ljgwdc6FMJjAET8CPo2/s1600/The+Jillian+Bradley+Short+Story+Collection+cover.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Available on <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/684340">Smashwords</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jillian-Bradley-Short-Story-Collection-ebook/dp/B01N0FCBNR/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8">Amazon</a></b></td></tr>
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<b>Including <i>The Jillian Bradley Short Story Collection,</i>
there is a total of 17 stories, all in sequence of events and mysteries
in the life of Jillian Bradley. Her Little Yorkie companion Teddy
appears in every story, helping to find important clues to solve the
mystery.You'll want to read them all to learn about Jillian Bradley's
life.</b><br />
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<b>I hope you enjoy the book.</b><br />
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<b>Cheers!</b><br />
<b>~Nancy Jill </b></div>
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Nancy Jill Thameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18089542041601366071noreply@blogger.com0