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.
Life

Packing Up

Jackie Layton

I can’t think of a time when I packed up my house that I didn’t move to another house or apartment.

There’s a defect with the flooring in our home, and the company is going to replace them. Yay.

BUT I have to pack up everything like I’m moving. Sigh. Still, I’m thankful they are being replaced because they have buckled, cracked, and splintered away. Why am I sharing this? Because I’m either going to be on social media a lot, trying to forget about the mess, or I will disappear. I’m not sure how I will deal with stress.

In case you enjoy before and after pictures, I’ll share the after when it’s all over.

Stay tuned for some exciting news.

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday at Paula’s Cozy Cottage

Jackie Layton

I recently spent time with Paula Charles at Malice, but we’ve been friends longer than a few weeks.

I asked Paula to share something she’s thankful for, and here’s her response.

“Just having gotten back from the last of several back-to-back trips, I am so very thankful for our cozy and comfortable cottage. And I’m doubly thankful for friends like you!”

I’m thankful for friends like Paula too.

Here’s one way to connect with Paula. https://www.paulacharles.com/

 

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German Immigrants in Texas

Jackie Layton

In the early 1900s, many German immigrants settled in the Hill Country of Texas. Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, Schulenburg, Boerne and more towns have a strong German heritage.

In A Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mystery Series, one of the characters is from Germany and runs the town bakery, Sophie’s Bakery. You might also have noticed the fictional setting is Lutz, Texas. This small town has some connections to Germany.

At Sophie’s Bakery a customer can find healthy foods, but they can also buy German treats.

I’ve never baked a kuchen, but I have helped make Springerle cookies. We have antique molds there were brought to America from Germany many generations ago.

The molds are works of art themselves.

May 28 was the release of Clover Covered Corpse, and I’ll share more about it next week.

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

Jackie Layton

Carol Ayer is joining us this week to share something she’s thankful for.

I have a lot to be thankful for, but right now I’m especially grateful for the small waterside town where my mom and I live. We often drive to the pier to eat lunch and look out to the water. It’s a peaceful time for us both.

Carol, thanks for sharing your peaceful spot. It’s lovely.

Friends, if you’d like to know Carol better, here’s a link. https://carolayer.com/

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Thankful Thursday

Jackie Layton

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/

Cozy mystery

It’s a Giveaway

Jackie Layton

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!

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Monday Funday

Jackie Layton

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!