How many hours will people spend watching football between now and February 11?
What questions will they ponder in the next few weeks? What recipes will the create? What books will they read in the pre-Superbowl days?
Let’s have a little fun from a reading point of view. 1992 was the last year the Detroit Lions were in a playoff game. Where were you in 1992? Were you alive in 1992?
Here’s a list of best sellers from 1992.
1992
One of the delightful books for children was The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister.
Adults had books like Dolores Claiborne or Gerald’s Game to choose from. Both are by Stephen King.
In the 1990s I read anything by John Grisham, Diane Mott Davidson, and Mary Higgins Clark. Who could resist titles like Catering to Nobody and Dying for Chocolate, both by Diane Mott Davidson.
I’d love to hear what you remember reading in 1992. What are you reading now? Will you watch the Superbowl, and if yes, who will you cheer for?
Thanks for spending time with me. Leave answers in the comment section or tag me on social media. Thanks!
Welcome, Teresa. We’d love to hear your thoughts on your Swinging Sixties Mystery Series.
Part of the fun of writing books that took place in the Sixties is the research. I think different writers have different methods of research, but mine is pretty organic.
For example: My main character Dot is a secretary, and I might write a scene where she begrudgingly gets coffee for her boss. She walks over to the coffee maker….screech….stop. There were no Coffee Makers in the early sixties. There were coffee pots and percolators. Next thing I know, I find myself looking at pictures of percolators and recalling my own mother filling the metal basket with the long silver pole on the bottom. I even recall the sound of the coffee perking. Good to the last drop.
So many things were different back then. Three network channels, hamburger that had to thaw on the counter because there were no microwaves…or slow cookers. Kids played board games or went (dare I say it) outside to play games generating around their own imaginations.
All of this is a part of Dot’s world. Each book that I’ve written in The Swinging Sixties Series have had their own path in research. In Listen, Do You Want to Know a Secret, I spent a lot of time listening to music from the year 1964 and trying to create a radio station in a small town. I went into it basing most of my knowledge on watching WKRP in Cincinnati, a sitcom from the 1980s. When I found a retired DJ in my church congregation, I overwhelmed him with questions, not only in general but things going on in the scenes to make them more realistic.
In the first book in the series, The Twist and Shout Murder, Dot is in secretarial school and spends time around her father, a clerk in the courthouse. This was easy for me because I attended secretarial school (and yes, I hated making coffee for the boss) and my father was a bailiff in a small courthouse and played poker with clerk of court at lunch time. I knew about the environment and the relationships with the lawyers who frequented the court.
In the second book, If I Had a Hammer, Dot works for a contractor. That was pretty easy too, because we have family connections for that. Construction equipment during that time was not able to do what it can today, so for the demolition of the rental houses, it was more knocking it down than scooping it up.
All the book titles come out of the top ten list of hit songs for each year. Which means, yes, I pick the title and then write the story.
What was the hit song the year and month you were born? The week I was born, The Drifters were sailing along with “Save the Last Dance for Me.”
In the news, my birth month included the Kennedy/Nixon debates. Pretty appropriate, seeing as I used to judge debates.
How about you, Jackie?
On the day I was born, February 15, 1961, “Calcutta” was the number one song in the United States. However, in the UK, the number one song was “Are You Lonesome Tonight” by Elvis Presley, which is way cooler in my opinion.
In the news, John F. Kennedy was president in 1961, and the Peace Corps was established.
I appreciate the opportunity to talk about my new mystery, Listen, Do You Want to Know a Secret. Every character Dot meets has a secret, but can you figure out which one includes murder?
Here is a little more about the book.
Everyone has a secret, and in 1964, Dot Morgan’s new job at KDUD Radio is filled with them. Her boss, Holden Ramsey, is a terrible flirt, but he’s also engaged to a beautiful socialite. When Dot finds out he’s hiding involvements with other women, the hidden facts lead to a grisly murder. Can Dot figure out who is murdering the women in Holden’s life before she finds herself next on the hit parade?
Listen, Do You Want to Know a Secret is available on Amazon.
Teresa, it’s been fun having you on the blog. Thanks for your time, and congratulations on Do You Want to Know a Secret!
We all probably carry similar things in our purses, handbags, or whatever we carry.
Kate Sloan, professional organizer, and amateur sleuth in Fox Island, Georgia carries five items that might be unique to her.
Kate carries normal items in her polka dot handbag.
She also carries a tape measure, zipper pouches to keep organized, an envelope for receipts, hand sanitizer, and tape. She doesn’t want the inside of her purse to be cluttered, and these are the primary items she finds help her stay organized.
I’d love for you to share unique items you carry in your purse. Also, if you have suggestions for Kate, send them my way or tag me on social media.
In case you’d like to get to know Kate better, check out Clutter Free.
BACK COVER COPY:
Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner.
Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Emma’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.
Who’s ready to start a new year? It’s here, and like always, I’m excited. There’s so much hope and promise on January 1. It’s a clean slate. A fresh page. Or as C. S. Lewis says, “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
Research suggests less than 10% of resolutions are kept, and most people give up before the end of the month. That’s so sad. Despite the negative feedback, I usually set goals and pick a word for the year.
My word for 2024 is focus. I hope to be more focused on my writing goals and my health.
Whether you make goals or pick a word, I hope 2024 is an amazing year for you.
Yesterday, I heard people talking about Christmas. They are not ready and don’t know what to do. This got me to thinking. Does Kate Sloan, amateur sleuth in Clutter Free, have any tips?
Yes, she does. I hope you find these tips helpful.
Don’t stress over décor. One year my young son asked if we could do a Beanie Baby Christmas tree instead of the normal ornaments. For some reason, I agreed. We put lights on the tree, then we arranged the Beanie Babies, and it turned out to be a fun tree. If you’re feeling stressed this year, maybe you could decorate your tree with favorite books.
Holiday cards can be sent anytime of the year, and if it simplifies your month, why not? Also, ecards are an option.
For those of you who prefer giving experiences, you might buy gift cards to a movie theater, the zoo, a museum, or somewhere else fun. Gift cards can save time wrapping, and it extends the celebration after the actual holiday.
Sticky notes come in handy to keep yourself organized on what gifts are going to whom.
If it’s a hassle to store wrapping paper, tissue paper, and bows, use gift bags. They are easy to store, and they aren’t as bulky as the rolls of gift paper. (Of course, it is fun to create beautifully wrapped presents.)
When it’s time to decorate, you may need to move furniture to make room for your holiday décor. Before unpacking your decorations, declutter and clean.
If you haven’t already done so, label each tote and container. That will make it easier when you put everything away.
Declutter your kitchen. Toss anything that’s expired or that you don’t use. Then go through your Christmas recipes and make your grocery shopping list, so you’ll have all the ingredients you’ll need, and they’ll be fresh.
If you don’t have storage bins for your decorations, buy some that are the same size. Stack them with the heaviest on the bottom, and be sure to label them to make next year easier.
Are you hosting a big meal? Plan your menu and shop for the items. Decorate your table, and plan what bowls and platters will be used. You can use sticky notes on these dishes so you’ll remember your plan on the day of your big event.
Asking others to pitch in by bringing a dish, should give you some extra time to enjoy the holidays or read a book. Instead of baking a wide variety of cookies, have a cookie exchange. It simplifies life, if you only bake one kind of cookie.
If you want this to be the most enjoyable time of the year, do things that make you happy. If you don’t enjoy some of your family traditions, make new traditions and memories. Make notes of the foods your family and friends raved about. Make notes on the games and activities your family enjoyed the most. Make notes of your successes and failures, and that will start paving the way for your next organized holidays. Just don’t forget where you put your notes.
I hope these tips help you enjoy your holiday celebrations. They are supposed to make your life simpler, not more challenging.
I thought it might be fun to step away from the holiday stress and play a little trivia game. Let’s see who can get all the answers right.
What is the name of the book that Clarence gives to George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life? “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.”
In Elf, why does Santa’s sleigh crash in Central Park? A shortage of Christmas spirit.
Christmas with the Kranksis based on a 2001 novel by what bestselling author? John Grisham
What Disney character playsEbenezer Scrooge in Mickey’s Christmas Carol? Scrooge McDuck
In The Santa Clause, what is the name of the head elf? Bernard.
According to the song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” from How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch has all the tender sweetness of what kind of crocodile? A seasick crocodile.
What movie is this famous line from? Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. Christmas Vacation
In the movie White Christmas, what are the sisters’ names? Betty and Judy
What book does angel Clarence have with him when he comes to help George in It’s a Wonderful Life? The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Thanks for playing. How’d you do? I hope you’re having a wonderful month as you prepare for your Christmas festivities.
Let’s welcome Ruth J. Hartman to the blog today and learn more about her new book, Butterfly Betrayal. Welcome, Ruth. Tell us about your newest book and the cats in your life.
My newest book, Butterfly Betrayal, is about a butterfly farm, a young woman named Seneca, and her cat, Winifred. Seneca runs into trouble when she discovers a body in her greenhouse. The man turns out to be her attorney, who she’d depended on to get her out of a current jam, when a neighbor double-crosses her by going back on a legal contract.
Winifred, a caramel colored, feisty feline, likes to wear butterfly costumes every day. Yes, really! When Seneca is working with her monarch butterflies in her green house or milkweed fields, or when in her café, Painted Wings, Winifred is right there supervising what the cat considers to be her property. And why shouldn’t she? Don’t cats really run the world? 😊
If you own a cat, or three, like I do, you become many things. When they want to lie on your lap just as you were planning to get out of your chair, you become their pillow. When you walk into the kitchen, even just to pass through the room, you become their waitress, supplying them with much longed-for treats. And when you’re standing there, minding your own business, not realizing you have a thread hanging loose from the bottom of your jeans, you become their plaything.
Those of you who are cat moms or dads know what I mean. Cats are funny, sweet, and affectionate. They are also, spunky, feisty, and dramatic. I love all sides of my cats. They keep me entertained when they leap four feet into the air to catch a catnip mouse I’ve thrown, and they sleep on me (all three!) when I don’t feel well and need some little furry nurses to get me through my illness.
I’ve been a cat lover my entire life. I think it started in the womb because my mom was one too. They’ve always been there, no matter what stage of life I was in, from hurrying home to see my cat after a long day at elementary school, to choosing the first cat I picked out with my husband, to retiring from my dental hygiene job so I could write full time, where my cats earn their keep (not really…. they’re usually napping!) as my fuzzy editors.
Winifred is a combination of a couple of different cats I’ve had. Actually every cat in every one of my books (yes, they all have cats!) has personality traits and quirks from one or more cats I’ve had through the years. If you like felines as much as I do, or if you’d like to learn more about them, I hope you’ll enjoy my new release, Butterfly Betrayal!
I first met Ruth on Zoom meetings, then when we got together at a mystery conference, we hit it off. THEN our husbands hit it off. Here’s a little more about my friend, Ruth.
Ruth J. Hartman spends her days herding cats and her nights spinning mysterious tales. She, her husband, and their cats love to spend time curled up in their recliners watching old Cary Grant movies. Well, the cats sit in the people’s recliners. Not that the cats couldn’t get their own furniture. They just choose to shed on someone else’s.
Ruth, a left-handed, cat-herding, farmhouse-dwelling writer uses her sense of humor as she writes tales of lovable, klutzy women who seem to find trouble without even trying.
Ruth’s husband and best friend, Garry, reads her manuscripts, rolls his eyes at her weird story ideas, and loves her despite her insistence all of her books have at least one cat in them. See updates about her cozy mysteries at Ruthjhartman.com.
Friends, be sure to check out Butterfly Betrayal.
Blurb:
Raising butterflies is peaceful and calm, until someone dies.
Majestic Monarch Butterfly Farm might flitter away forever. That is, unless Seneca James acquires the property next door. She and Winifred, her costume-wearing cat, have a fight on their hands. Their land sits next to a milkweed-covered field, essential for monarchs. If she’s unsuccessful in buying it, her precious, winged friends won’t survive. When people end up dead on her farmland, Seneca is suspected of murder.
What is it about the milkweed field that’s worth killing for? And who’s the murderer?
November was a great month of writing. NaNoWriMo is a nonprofit organization and it promotes creative writing around the world. The goal is November is to write a 50,000-word manuscript. I always find it helpful, and I enjoy meeting other authors with the same goal. This year I wrote 56,068. My story is the rough draft for the second book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery series.
This month I’ll focus on editing the rough draft.
Also, it’s time for #12DaysofCozies on Twitter and Instagram. I’ll be featured on the blog, Monday, December 4, and I’ll be part of the Twitter chat from 7:00-9:00 PM EST.
I hope you’ll be able to join the fun! Don’t forget to use the #12DaysofCozies to find the most current information.
Have you ever noticed Jessica Fletcher always has her purse with her? She doesn’t drive, so she doesn’t need keys and a drivers license. She has different purses for different outfits. Some purses are elegant, and some are functional.
I can’t remember Jessica opening her purse very often. What do you think she carries in there?
More than once I’ve seen Jessica with a flashlight. What else do you think she carried in her purse?
To make it even more fun, I’ll randomly choose one commenter to win a prize.
Jackie Layton 