Author: Jackie Layton

I love God the creator of all things. I live on the coast of South Carolina and write cozy mysteries. I'm a wife, mother, and Gigi.
Cozy mystery

A Slight Delay

Jackie Layton

Some of you may remember that today is the release day for Killer Secrets. Sadly, there has been a delay.

But that’s okay. I decided to share more about Kate Sloan and hopefully build excitement for the new book.

Kate Sloan is an empty nester who moved to her hometown of Fox Island to start an organizing business with her best friend, Bess Walker.

Clutter Free is the first book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series, and Kate will solve her first mystery.

In The Con, Kate will rely on her organizing skills to solve another murder.

Have you ever stayed at a resort? I’ve been blessed to visit a couple of resorts in my life. They are like little cities. There are many employees, guests, and events. Fox Island, Georgia is a popular vacation spot. So, it made sense to add a resort on the island. And if you’ve read The Con, you know one murder takes place at the resort.

Killer Secrets takes us back to Fox Island’s popular resort Seaside Hideaway.

If you haven’t read this series yet, here are a couple of links.

Clutter Free https://amzn.to/3PuLRuL

The Con https://amzn.to/4fYAhmR

The books are also available at Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other places.

Have you ever hired a professional organizer? Has it helped?

Or are you naturally organized? I’d love for you to share some organizing tips.

Until next time,

Happy reading!

Cozy mystery, holiday

A Zappy Little Christmas

Jackie Layton

A Zappy Little Christmas in October? You bet. Paula Charles’ new book releases October 21, and I preordered it months ago. Isn’t the cover beautiful? I can’t wait to read it. Paula agreed to stop by the blog today, and here’s Paula.

Thank you, Jackie, for inviting me here today to chat about my newest book.

A Zappy Little Christmas is the third book in the Hometown Hardware mysteries. This series features Dawna Carpenter, the widowed owner of Carpenter’s Corner Hardware in the mountain town of Pine Bluff, Oregon.

In Zappy, Dawna, her daughter April, and elderly family friend Smitty are taking a festive tour on the town bus, dubbed the Christmas Light Trolley, to ooh and ahh over all the beautifully decorated homes in town.

Having them jump on the Christmas Light Trolley was inspired by a similar tour we took my husband’s grandmother on years ago when we all lived in Cody, Wyoming. That tour was just like the one I described in the book, (sans a dead body!), with festive treats, lights, and fun Christmas music pumping through the speakers. We all enjoyed it so much, and Grandma Mary’s eyes truly sparkled that night. When I thought about writing a Christmas cozy, I knew the trolley had to be included.

I hope you all enjoy your time experiencing Pine Bluff at Christmastime! 

My website: Paula Charles Books | Paula Charles

From the back cover:

Silver bells ring out, but in the air there’s a feeling of…murder.

Pine Bluff, Oregon resembles a perfect cozy Christmas card. Sparkling Christmas trees line snowy main street. Wreaths, red ribbons, and colored lights adorn every door. Hardware store owner Dawna Carpenter is in a festive mood. She invites her elderly neighbor, Smitty, to join her and daughter April on the Christmas Light Tour, a trolley that takes guests through all the best decorated neighborhoods while they enjoy steaming mugs of hot cocoa and scrumptious treats.

But when Smitty spies one of the homeowners dead—a macabre decoration in an otherwise merry display—the cheerful ride turns somber fast. Dawna notices the ghost of the deceased woman standing next to the display, clearly angry over her recent demise. As snow blankets the valley and her newest employee is implicated in the crime, it’s up to Dawna to find out who’s been naughty and who’s been nice—before it’s lights out for her, too.

Thanks for sharing, Paula. Congratulations on A Zappy Little Christmas!

Cozy mystery

Save the Date

Jackie Layton

I’m excited to share that my newest book, Killer Secrets, will release on November 11.

Here’s the back cover copy…

Speed dating sabotage?  

Or straight-up murder? 

 Kate Sloan’s best friend Bess Walker decides to try speed dating and convinces Kate to go with her for moral support.  

The night of the event is filled with many emotions. Excitement, hope, jealousy, fear, greed, and even anger. Emotions spiral out of control for one person. 

Before the second round, the event’s host is murdered. 

Kate will use her skills at organizing, list-making, and questioning to try and solve the murder. Can she unravel the mystery before the killer leaves town for the next weekend of singles events? 

And now, drum roll please, the cover reveal.

Uncategorized

Shifting Gears to Poetry

Jackie Layton

Last week we had National Poetry Day. When I discovered my friend, Priscilla Bettis, had a book of poetry release last week, I wanted to share it with you. Priscilla and I have never met in person, but we connected years ago through social media.

Priscilla Bettis is an avid reader and a joyful writer. Priscilla lives in small-town Texas with her two-legged and four-legged family members. She enjoys writing short stories and poems inspired by her awe of God and love for fellow human beings.

 Whispers of a Southern Moon is a collection of poetry and short stories. https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Southern-Moon-Priscilla-Bettis-ebook/dp/B0FT55ZJMJ

Congratulations to Priscilla.

Priscilla is a reviewer at The Well Read Fish, a Christian fiction review blog: https://thewellreadfish.com. 

She chats about life and writing on X: https://x.com/PriscillaBettis.

Writing Life

Creative Juices Part 2

Jackie Layton

Creative juices, visionary thoughts, imagination, artistic inspiration, creative flow and other words and phrases all refer to creativity and flow of ideas. These are necessary for artists, authors, composers and others in artistic fields.

When I work as a pharmacist, I don’t need to get inspired to fill a prescription. I just do it while looking for drug interactions, allergies, and insurance issues.

But writing uses another part of my brain. I treat my writing as a career. I get up like any other morning, have my coffee, enter my office, and get to work.

If I hit a wall, I sometimes go for a walk or golf cart ride on the island near me. Sometimes, I go to the library or a local coffee shop for a change of scenery and a brain reset.

If you’re a creative, what do you do when you hit a wall?

These are some pictures of my area. Spending time outside helps me recharge and sometimes ideas come to me. Then I can return to my office and get back to work.

Have a great day!

Writing Life

Creative Juices

Jackie Layton

The Desert Sleuths chapter of Sisters in Crime hosted a conference this past weekend, and it was amazing. There was a panel led by Rhys Bowen with Edith Maxwell, Catriona McPherson, and Lois Winston.

The topic focused on staying creative.

If you’ve read many of my posts, you know I enjoy setting goals. After attending this panel, I’m going to start setting concrete deadlines to accompany my goals.

For instance, if I’m writing a story that does not have a contract yet, I need to remain focused as I write and set deadlines for myself. Also, if I have a contracted story, I should set personal deadlines before the story is due. So, by the time I turn it in to the publisher, it’ll shine.

I was also challenged to set goals for other aspects of my writing life. Marketing, working on my website, newsletters, blog posts, and social media should not be afterthoughts. I need to create with purpose and be consistent.

I would love for you to share your strategies on meeting deadlines and setting goals.

Next time, we’ll dive deeper into keeping our creative juices flowing.

Cozy mystery

Fall is the Season to Fall for a Good Book

Jackie Layton

The days are cooler and shorter. What’s cozier than curling up with a good book?

If you haven’t read all my books yet, this is a good season to catch up.

In a few months, Killer Secrets, the third book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series will release. Stay tuned for a cover reveal and more information on the release.

Clutter Free is the first book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series.

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.

What are you looking forward to reading this fall?

Life

National Hug & High 5 Day

Jackie Layton

It’s been a tough week in the United States, and I wanted to do an uplifting post. I discovered it is National Hug & High Five Day and the National Day of Encouragement.

Mark Twain said, “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

Let’s find ways to be kind, encourage others, give a hug or a high five today. Shoot, let’s do it every day.

I appreciate you all, and while I can’t give most of you a hug or high five, here’s a picture from my neck of the woods.