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.
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Bookish Goals

Jackie Layton

I was recently asked about my bookish goals in 2025.

I have two books releasing in 2025.

Bleeding Heart Librarian is the third book in A Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mystery Series, and it’s scheduled to come out at the end of April.

At the end of August, Killer Secrets will release, and it’s the third book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series.

I want to promote these books, and I want to write a new book in 2025 after I finish polishing Killer Secrets.

I also want to read more this year. My goal is to read twenty-six books. I have so many books in my TBR pile and on my Kindle, and I want to make time to read them.

Whether you’re a reader or author or both, what are your bookish goals for 2025?

In case you haven’t read Bite the Dust, the eBook is on sale January 16-31.

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Happy New Year

Jackie Layton

Whether you say Bonne Année, Feliz Año Nuevo, Frohes neues Jahr, Gelukkig nieuwjaar or happy new year, I hop 2025 is a fabulous year for you!

Lots of people make resolutions at the beginning of the year, how about you? Do you make resolutions?

Do you focus on health goals?

What about work goals?

I always enjoy setting yearly goals.

My goals for 2025 include getting healthier and participating in at least one 5K.

Two of my books will be published this year, and I want to start brainstorming ideas for a new book.

And I’m starting a new pharmacy job this month, and I’m looking forward to meeting new people.

All this has led me to reflect on the word courage for 2025. If you have a good scripture or saying for courage, I’d love for you to share it with me.

Thanks and once again, happy new year!

holiday

Christmas Flowers

Jackie Layton

When you think of Christmas flowers, what comes to mind?

Or course, poinsettias are popular. If you’re thinking romance, mistletoe probably comes to mind.

My husband proposed to me before Christmas, and he hid the ring in the tree. So, I’m all in favor for romance at Christmas time.

But, this post is about Christmas flowers.

Emma Justice is the amateur sleuth in Weeding Out Lies and Clover Covered Corpse, and she’s a flower farmer. So, she has a couple of suggestions.

Besides Christmas trees, do you decorate with plants during the holidays?

If you’d like to get to know Emma Justice better, she’s the amateur sleuth in A Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mystery Series.

Weeding Out Lies https://amzn.to/3OkkUbg

The Con https://amzn.to/3AzR6nO

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Happy Thanksgiving

Jackie Layton

Happy Thanksgiving! I am so appreciative of you and the time you spend with me. I hope you have a wonderful holiday, good food, and fun with family and friends.

I also hope you can find time to read a good book this weekend.

I’ve been busy the past few months, and I’ve got a lot to be thankful for. Here are a few highlights.

As you can see, I have a lot to be thankful for.

I’d love to hear what you’re thankful for this year. Email me or tag me on social media.

Here are a few places you can find me.

Twitter: @Joyfuljel

https://www.facebook.com/JackieLaytonAuthor

https://www.facebook.com/Joyfuljel

https://www.instagram.com/jackielaytonauthor.com

Take care and happy Thanksgiving!

Cozy mystery

Why Read Cozy Mysteries?

Jackie Layton

I recently talked to a group and not everyone was familiar with cozy mysteries.

I explained some of the fun aspects of cozies.

Small communities make good settings for cozy mysteries. They can be real or fictional. I created Heyward Beach for A Low Country Dog Walker series, Lutz, Texas for a Texas Flower Farmer series, and Fox Island for An Organized Crime series. In these tight-knit communities, my amateur sleuths feel comfortable asking people questions about the crime.

Most cozy mysteries include pets. I have dogs in all my books because I love dogs. (I’m allergic to cats, but they make appearances.)

Earlier this year, I was on a panel and our theme was Romcozies. Romantic cozy mysteries. The books have a romantic thread, but it’s only a thread. The main goal of the cozy mystery is to solve the murder.

There’s one more thing I want to include. Cozy mysteries are clean. There’s no blood and gore, no sex, and no foul language. One reader told me these some of the reasons she reads cozy mysteries.

I’d love the know why you enjoy cozy mysteries.

Cozy mystery

Heather Weidner’s Done it Again

Jackie Layton

Deadlines and Valentines: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery is the fourth book in Heather’s series, and it’s out now.

Heather is one of the nicest people I have ever met. She’s also a fabulous author, and you don’t want to miss reading this book.

Fern Valley, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is ground zero for all things romance. The town has pulled out all the stops for the first Valentine’s Day “Love is in the Air” Book Festival with events like Death by Chocolate, author speed-dating, a character masquerade, and a male cover model fashion show.

Everything is candy and roses until the sparks start to fly. Jules Keene and her team at the glamping resort spend their time trying to tamp down fiery tempers because opposites may not always attract.

When a popular author with a heart of gold is found murdered in the barn at the resort, Jules has to find the culprit before more than just hearts are broken.

Here’s a link: https://amzn.to/4d8KnPf

Happy reading!

Cozy mystery

Murder at the Painted Wings Cafe

Jackie Layton

I’m excited to share with you Ruth Hartman’s upcoming book. Ruth and I became friends when we were both authors for Dawn Dawdle.

Murder at the Painted Wings Cafe is scheduled to release on November 19. This is the second book in the Senneca James Mystery series.

Seneca James’ cousin, Evie, ends up in hot water, when she’s accused of stealing a wallet from an angry customer in Seneca’s Painted Wings Café. The customer also happens to be the local bank manager, who Evie pleads with for a much-needed loan, resulting in a public spectacle as the bank manager refuses, and ridicules Evie. When the manager later turns up dead inside the cafe, and Evie is the most likely suspect, it will take all of Seneca’s sleuthing and help from her best friend, Sheriff Cody Bales, to get Evie out of trouble.

Here’s a preorder link: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Painted-Wings-Cafe-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0DLCSLW3R

Isn’t the cover beautiful? I’m excited to read Ruth’s newest book! Congratulations, Ruth!

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Moveable Feast

Jackie Layton

The Moveable Feast is a lunch event hosted by C.L.A.S.S. every two weeks. Community Learning About Special Subjects is led by Linda Ketron, and Bess from My Sister’s Books brings books from her store to the luncheons. Moveable Feast has been around for twenty-seven years, and it’s an honor to be part of the tradition.

I had three books published in 2024, and Linda asked me to speak about all of them. A Suspicious Breed, Clover Covered Corpse, and The Con were all released this year.

The event took place at Wahoo’s Fish House in Murrells Inlet. The view was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the company was amazing!

Bess introduced me, and then I spoke for an hour about myself and my books. Tim, my husband, came and took pictures before, during, and after. There was time for questions, and the audience was engaged. It was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed meeting so many great readers!

It was a lovely event, and I appreciate everyone who took part. And thanks to you for letting me share the fun.