Rest Your Body While Improving Your Mind

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! 
   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. 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. 
   I believe this routine contributes to good health and a happy disposition. Some exercise their bodies. I like to exercise my mind.
   For some good cozy mysteries that probably won't give you nightmares, check out our Cozy Book Page.
   Enjoy!

See you in my books!

~Nancy Jill Thames

Choose Books Wisely-Good or Great?

For some GREAT books check our 

           Cozy Books page.
           Have a great day, dear readers!

~Nancy Jill Thames 

Cozy Pecan Cobbler - Good Anytime!

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!

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!

PECAN COBBLER   from Nancy Jill Thames

prep 5 minutes cook 30 minutes total 35 mins

yield 8 servings

Ingredients

·  6 tablespoon butter (no substitutions)

·  1 cup pecans

·  1 and 1/2 cup self-rising flour

1 cup of all-purpose flour with 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Adjust to 11/2c

·  1 and 1/2 cup granulated sugar

·  2/3 cup milk (more if needed)

·  1 teaspoon vanilla

·  1 and 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

·  1 and 1/2 cup hot water

Instructions

1.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.     Add butter to a 9x13 inch cake pan or casserole dish and melt in the oven.

3.     Once butter is melted, sprinkle the pecans over butter.

4.     In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, milk and vanilla. Stir to combine, but don't over-mix.

5.     Pour batter over butter and pecans, do not mix.

6.     Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over batter, do not stir.

7.     Carefully pour the hot water over the mixture; do not stir.

8.     Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Notes

1.     I recommend using real butter only

2.     I do not recommend reducing either the brown sugar or the hot water

3.     I do not recommend reducing the amount of butter

4.     I used whole milk. 

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

After writing eleven books and a short story collection, Nancy Jill travels between Texas, California, and Georgia finding new ways to spoil her grandchildren, playing classical favorites on her baby grand, or having afternoon tea with friends.

She lives with her husband in Texas and is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) CenTex Chapter.

To learn more about Nancy Jill, visit these sites. 

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Book Cover Reveal for "Buckhead Dead"

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

 

 



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

 

 

 

Deborah Malone's first novel "Death in Dahlonega," finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writer's Category Five writing contest! Deborah was nominated for 2012 and 2013 Georgia Author of the Year Award in Novel category. She has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, for the historic magazine "Georgia Backroads." She has had many articles and photographs published, and her writing is featured in "Tales of the Rails," edited by Olin Jackson as well as the Christian Communicator. She is a member of Georgia Writer's Association and Advanced Writer's & Speaker's Association. As a current member of American Christian Fiction Writers she has established a blog where she reviews Christian Fiction.



Food Baby

Yes, I write mysteries--primarily. Cozy mysteries are my passion! But I write other books, even short stories on the side. For instance, last year I wrote a speculative fiction (short) story for an anthology (Out of the Storm, Chalfont House Publishing). Alongside my other projects, I've been writing Food Baby for the past five years. After I turned it over to an editor for scrubbing and buffing, then sat on the story some more, scrubbed and buffed it again--I was ready to let my baby--er--Food Baby go.

Buy on Amazon

Here's the back cover blurb: 

JoBeth Tomlin loses everything—her family, her job, her figure and the man of her dreams, all before her thirtieth birthday. And just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, she has to move in with her eccentric aunt, two feisty cats and a flatulent old dog named Roscoe. With all the sorrow snacking going on, JoBeth’s food baby is starting to show. Will she turn to God or Little Debbie for answers?

As I wrote the book, I consulted women who had food addictions and compulsions to get a good feel for the character and her motivations. One of the women had undergone gastric bypass surgery and lost an enormous amount of weight, but she still had strange food peccadilloes. She liked to drive through Long John Silvers and order "the crunchies." Now, if you're wondering, "crunchies" are not on the menu there. She wanted the crunchy pieces of leftover batter in the fryer. Yes, this is an actual thing, and she buys them, AND loves 'em. 

One of JoBeth's (my character) favorite snacks is a banana studded with Hershey's kisses, then dipped in chocolate syrup and rolled in nuts, covered in whipped cream and topped with a maraschino cherry. (Yummers!) That little jewel came from two sources--my own daughters AND a beloved food truck I love in Austin, Texas called Bananarchy!

Do you have food peccadilloes? (In case you're wondering, here's the definition: a very minor or slight sin or offense; a trifling fault.). I would love to hear about them!

Linda Kozar, Author