I’m so excited. Clover Covered Corpse is out in the world as eBook today. The paperback is coming soon.
I’ll be honest, I doubt John Grisham is sharing the news about my book, but it’s exciting to think we have something in common.
I hope you all have a blessed day, and thanks for joining me on my writing journey!
Today is Memorial Day and a time to honor and mourn military personnel who died while serving in the U. S. Armed Forces.
Thank you to all those who served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces.
Memorial Day is also the unofficial start to summer.
What do you plan to read this summer?
Where’s your favorite place to read?
Happy Memorial Day and happy summer!
This week I’d like to introduce you to Tina deBellegarde.
I’ve attended meetings led by Tina, but in April I got to meet her in person. She was more delightful in person, and she is so smart!
Tina agreed to share a quote with us this week. Here’s Tina:
I love this quote from G.K. Chesterton:
When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” — G.K. Chesterton.
I very intentionally try to recognize how lucky I am, how life has been good to me. This can be difficult sometimes, especially when we receive bad news. But if we search hard enough under the surface we can usually find something to be grateful for. I got a very hefty speeding ticket many years ago when my young son was in the car with me. I thanked the officer and drove along calmly. My son wondered how I was able to handle the situation so well. Why wasn’t I upset? It was precisely because he was in the car that I had stopped to re-evaluate the situation. No good would have come from banging the steering wheel and carrying on. All it would have done was teach my son angry behavior. Instead, I realized that the ticket may have stopped me from getting into an accident and possibly hurting my son. I was grateful for the ticket and I told him so. The more I tried to see the world this way for my son’s sake, the easier this kind of thinking became for me. Being grateful has become an easy daily exercise.
I love this quote from G. K. Chesterton, and Tina has given me something to consider. Be grateful daily. Today, I’m grateful for knowing Tina, and I’m grateful for you all!
If you’d like to know more about Tina, here’s a place to get started. https://www.tinadebellegarde.com/
I’m trying something new with Clover Covered Corpse. I’m teaming up with Goodreads for a eBook giveaway.
Summer’s right around the corner. What do you plan to read? Here’s a chance to win a copy of Clover Covered Corpse. https://goodreads.com/…/388732-clover-covered-corpse
Emma Justice never imagines working at the farmers market on a normal Saturday morning will lead to her second murder investigation. When two friends becomes suspects in the latest small-town murder, she’ll help prove they are innocent by tracking down the real killer. Houston Turner, the successful owner of Texas BBQ Hut, is a hard man and has made many enemies in his life. Revenge, greed, and hatred are some of the motives Emma must sift through to catch the killer. Seeds of suspicion from family, friends, and employees leaves Emma digging for real clues instead of stumbling through the rocky soil of deceit and lies.
What do you all think about giveaways?
Good luck, and I hope you have a great week!
I want to begin sharing things and people we’re thankful for.
I’m thankful for my friend Heather Weidner. She always has a smile, and when I asked her to share a quote about thankfulness, she immediately replied.
“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.”
Maya Angelou
Thanks, Heather.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you all have a lovely day!
I think many people think of Monday as the least popular day of the week. So, let’s have some fun.
Have you heard the legend that Ethiopian shepherds were the first to discover coffee? The story goes the spotted goats dancing in the distance. The shepherds went to explore and discovered the goats had been eating coffee berries.
Today is National Apple Pie Day and National Hummus Day.
I enjoy hummus, but coffee and apple pie make a nice combination.
Texas is the setting for upcoming book, Clover Covered Corpse. Here are a couple of fun Texas facts.
In 1853, Captain Richard King bought some land near a creek and it became The King Ranch. It’s 825,000 acres and bigger than Rhode Island. It even has its own airport.
One thing Texas is known for is its size. Everything is bigger in Texas is probably true. It’s also known for horses, rodeos, barbecue, oil, the Alamo, sports, and so much more.
Tyler, Texas has a rose festival. This year the dates are October 17-20. There’s a coronation for the Rose Queen, a ribbon cutting and rose presentation, the Queen’s Tea, and if that’s not enough, there’s the Rose Parade. It’s no wonder Tyler is the rose capital of the world.
I’d love for you to share a fun fact with us today. I hope you all have a blessed Monday!
My friend Ruth J. Hartman has a new cozy mystery coming out this month. May 14, to be exact. You might have guessed, cats are involved in the story. I can’t imagine Ruth writing a story without a cat.
Here’s the blurb:
When mobile cat groomer, Molly Stewart, asks her friend Evan to photograph her new feline
clients, they both get more than they bargained for when the body of Evan’s old art teacher is
found bludgeoned to death in his photography studio darkroom. After one of Evan’s photos
catches suspicious activity in the background, Molly is ready to call the authorities with the
newest piece of information. However, an anonymous phone call which threatens not only her,
but Evan and their pets, convinces Molly to clam up and find the murderer herself. Will the
tenuous situation end up being picture perfect or a photo bomb?
In the meantime, for the month of May, the ebook version of Dial M for Meow is available for $2.49.
Congratulations, Ruth. It looks like an exciting month for you!
I’m so excited about this podcast with Becki Lee and Literary Escapes. After you listen to the episode with me, featuring South Carolina, check out the other authors writing in different states. It’s the best bang for your buck if you want to visit all the states.
Here’s the link. https://literaryescapes.fun/ep-109-exploring-south-carolina-with-author-jackie-layton/
As always, thanks for your support and encouragement! Take care!
I’m participating in a fun book club in 2024 and wanted to make sure to invite you to join me. Join me and author Becki Lee and we Read Across the U.S. in 2024.
One of my favorite parts of reading is the escape it gives. I have been all around the world, several times, in my books. The Read Across the U.S. Book Club will take us to all 50 states in 2024. If you just did some math in your head you’ll understand that this is going to be fast & fun!
Every week Becki will introduce us to a new state and a new book. Over the year you’ll have the opportunity to meet 50 authors and “visit” all 50 states.
Come join me for this adventure and travel all across the U.S.
Link to join the adventure:
https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/227687/98338387438601586/share
And join me for Becki’s podcast. Check your favorite places for podcasts and look for Literary Escapes with Becki . Here’s one option https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/literary-escapes-with-becki/id1571134823
Join us for book fun and South Carolina fun. Have a blessed week!
Next weekend is Malice Domestic. If you’ve followed me for long, you know how much I enjoy attending this event. If you’re going this year, please look for me. I’d love to connect with you.
As I prepare for this conference, I’ll be busy. It’s during times like this that I look for easy recipes, and Frito Pie is one of my favorites.
Spread 2 cups of Fritos in a baking dish ( 8×8- or 9×9-inch) — double the recipe for a 9×13-inch dish).
Sprinkle chopped onions or green peppers and cheese over the Fritos in a nice layer.
Pick a can of your favorite chili, and warm it up in a small saucepan. Then pour the chili over the onion and cheese.
Sprinkle more Fritos, onions or peppers and cheese over the chili.
Bake for twenty minutes until heated and cheese is bubbly. Dallop sour cream or plain yogurt on top and serve.
I’d love to hear some of your favorite quick and easy recipes.
And again, I hope to see you at Malice.
Jackie Layton 