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author Nancy Jill Thames...
and her little dog, too!

Two Heads are Better Than One - Meet Blanche Day Manos

Lately, recreational reading has re-entered my life for reasons I may choose discuss someday. But not today. One book worth telling you about was "The Cemetery Club" by Blanche Day Manos and Barbara Burgess. I was curious about how the two authors came to write the book, so I asked Blanche. Here is what she told me:

The three Darcy and Flora cozies, The Cemetery Club, Grave Shift, and Best Left Buried, were written with a friend of mine who lives in a neighboring town, Barbara Burgess. This is how it all came about:


Barbara and I had a mutual friend, Levern Jones, who introduced us as two writers who should get to know each other. This we proceeded to do over coffee and an orange Danish in a tearoom.

“You know,” I said to Barbara, “we could collaborate on a book. It might be fun.”

Barbara is of Cherokee descent and so am I. We were both brought up in small towns, and cozy mysteries were our favorite genre. Cherokee legends and the people who live in rural areas should be what our books centered around, we both decided. So, The Cemetery Club began its journey toward publication.

We began with a legend of Cherokee gold and the greedy men who were out to find it. Adding a murdered body which disappeared, a dim and faded map, an old romance about to be re-kindled, and a couple of more murders, Barbara and I had our book.

Working with a co-author is fun and rewarding. You’ve heard the adage, “two heads are better than one”. Well, in collaborating on the Darcy and Flora series, this proved to be true. We were the sounding boards for each other. If the plot hit a snag, one or the other came up with an answer. We emailed, talked on the phone, and met in person. At last, The Cemetery Club made its debut.

Writing with a partner is not for everyone, but for those who think it might be fun, I heartily recommend it. It certainly worked for co-author Barbara Burgess and me.

Currently, I am working on the fourth Darcy and Flora cozy. This one I am writing solo with no co-author.

In December, Moonlight Can Be Murder is to make its debut. This is a brand-new series, in addition to the Darcy and Flora series. MCBM has a different protagonist, different Oklahoma town, but the same spine-tingling mystery. Instead of a mother and daughter team, MCBM involves a woman and two childhood friends who are reunited after a number of years. It involves a Victorian house, a couple of mysterious murders, and a surprise ending.

There was nothing I didn't like about this cozy mystery. From the gruesome discovery of the body under a pile of brush, which gave me chills, to escaping the bad guys, this book held my attention until the end. If you like a great story with a sprinkling of Oklahoma history and heart, read "The Cemetery Club." Here is a link to the series:

http://www.amazon.com/Blanche-Day-Manos/e/B0090018EI

Blanche’s Bio

It might seem strange to some that a mild-mannered kindergarten teacher would resort to murder and mayhem but never fear! The murders all happen on paper only and it’s a good fit. After nearly three decades teaching in public schools and numerous articles and stories being published in a hometown newspaper and various periodicals, this writer found a niche in the field of cozy mysteries.

A native Oklahoman, Blanche’s books reflect her small-town upbringing and the values as well as the legends she grew up with. Nearly a life-long Oklahoma resident, Blanche moved to Northwest Arkansas a few years ago. Now she makes her home within hollerin’ distance from her son and his family. And, she couldn’t be happier with the arrangement.

Other places where you can read more about Blanche Day Manos and her books:

http://pen-l.com/Mystery.html

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=blanche+day+manos

https://www.facebook.com/blanchedaymanos.author?_rdr=p

https://www.pinterest.com/blanchemanos/

Cheers!

~Nancy Jill Thames~

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

When she isn’t plotting Jillian’s next perilous adventure, Nancy Jill travels between Texas and California finding new ways to spoil her grandchildren, playing classical favorites on her baby grand or having afternoon tea with friends.

She is a member of Leander Writers’ Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW CenTex Chapter), and Central Texas Authors.

To learn more about Nancy Jill, visit  http://www.nancyjillthames.com.

Time for a Tea Party!

Thank you for joining us today on Cozy Mystery Magazine. Please let me pour you a nice cup of tea before we chat. Milk? Sugars?

Do help yourself to savories.

Our authors are launching books right and left for your reading pleasure. These authors are amazing and entertain thousands of cozy mystery lovers just like you! (And me!)

In only a few weeks we are launching our second edition of "A Cup of Cozy." Here's the cover reveal. We've added more original stories, holiday menus and recipes that we think you'll enjoy.

More tea?

Now that we've finished with our savories I believe it's time for the sweets. This dessert tier looks nice. Please enjoy!

I hope you've enjoyed our time together this afternoon. And I hope you'll get a copy of "A Cup of Cozy 2" when it launches. Have a wonderful week, dear readers.

Cheers!

~Nancy Jill

Queen of Afternoon Tea

Nancy Jill Thames has three loves in her life besides her husband and family: murder mysteries, Reuben sandwiches, and afternoon tea. She lives in Leander, Texas - home of the Bagdad Cemetery - setting for the movie "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Her favorite actor is Vin Deisel, mostly for his acting ability. She clearly writes Christian fiction because her faith means everything. Learn more about Nancy Jill and The Jillian Bradley Mystery Series at http://nancyjillthames.com.

ISN'T BRANDING FOR LIVESTOCK? and recipe for SHRIMP ON THE BARBIE

 by NANCY JILL THAMES

Doesn't matter what you're trying to sell - could be shoes, a service or a book, but you need branding if you're ever going to make it in today's world. Of course there's recognizable brands out there like Coke, AT&T, and GM but there's also you, whoever you are.   

     Took me a while to figure out my brand. Sure I'm a musician, artist and a pretty good cook (check out the recipe at the end), but I finally figured out the best brand for me was to be honest and just be who I am. So, after wrestling with trying to be witty and clever I decided my brand would be "Queen of Afternoon Tea" author of Jillian Bradley Mysteries. My protagonist is my alter ego living a life of gentility and mystery solving. She is branded as a widow and childless, Yorkie and art lover, garden columnist and garden club member. And I mustn't forget that Jillian is a lady who always serves afternoon tea or partakes of it where ever she visits. Even in "Pacific Beach" Jillian has tea and crumpets at The Mad Dogs Cafe with one of the characters in the book.

PACIFIC BEACH

      Take a look at people in your field and see how they brand themselves. Keep threshing your ideas out until you are comfortable with one that fits. Then, just become your brand.
     Now, before you decide what your brand will be it's a good idea to Google your ideas and see if the idea's been used before. Here's a good post on the subject you may want to read called The ABC's of Personal Branding. Above all understand that by branding yourself you will at last understand who you are and what you're trying to accomplish. As a Christian, I realize that's my brand too - one that I'm very grateful for and the reason for my writing. Being cooped up in a house all day doesn't afford many opportunities to share God's love. But people who read my books will get a glimpse of what being a Christian might be like...and who knows? Perhaps they'll even open their hearts to our loving Savior. Have you come up with a brand of your own? 

Thought I'd share a delicious summer recipe from Relish Magazine in the Cozy Kitchen.
Come on in and take a peek!

Grilled Shrimp with Tomato Salad

Sweet shrimp cooked on the grill perfectly complement a tomato salad with citrus vinaigrette.

 

Nancy Jill is busy working on book 6 Waiting for Santa, a murder mystery taking place on Christmas Eve near Jillian Bradley’s home in Clover Hills.

She has won awards for her blogs,  a pie contest for her Chip Chocolate Cream Pie, and has been on the Author Watch Bestseller List numerous times.


To check out her books, Murder in Half Moon Bay, The Ghost Orchid Murder, From the Clutches of Evil, The Mark of Eden, and Pacific Beach, please visit: 
her Web Site.