The story of Rober Smalls stopped me in my tracks. I never heard his name before this month.
His is a story of bravery, courage, defiance, and determination. I admire what he did with his life, and I’m convinced that I can push myself to do more.
Robert Smalls was a slave in America, and he dared to dream big. His mother was enslaved, and his father was an unknown white man. In 1851, Smalls was taken by his master to Charleston, South Carolina, where he was hired out to work as a waiter in a hotel, a hack driver, and a rigger. In 1861, he was forced to work aboard the CSS Planter, an armed transport and dispatch vessel that carried guns and ammunition for the Confederate army. On May 13, 1862, Robert Smalls and other enslaved people on board took charge of the ship in Charleston Harbor; he picked up his wife and children and others, succeeded in passing through Confederate checkpoints, and turned the ship, the weapons, and many important documents over to a Union naval squadron blockading the city. Smalls and the others on the steamship earned their freedom, and Robert Smalls became famous as a war hero throughout the North. Before the war was over, he became the first Black captain of a vessel in U.S. service.
After the war, he became a businessman and politician and made it to the U.S. House of Representatives and was elected to several terms.
You don’t usually come here for a history lesson, but I found his story inspiring. Robert was born into slavery, he was later forced to fight for the Confederacy, he became a hero for the Union army, and he was a U.S. Representative during the Reconstruction. He is part of America’s history.
What courageous things can I try to accomplish? What about you?
Thanks for allowing me to share this man’s brave journey during Black History Month.
Two of my good friends had a book release this week.
I’ve read Heather Weidner’s Murder Strikes a Chord already, and it’s a winner.
The Pearly Girls return to solve a high school reunion murder in this sequel to Murder Strikes a Chord.
Event planner Cassidy Jamison and her not-so-helpful sexagenarian staff of Roxie, Kate, Aileen, and Ruthanne are up to their elbows with a high school reunion committee’s constantly changing requirements for an event that must be the most elaborate and memorable at all costs.
When well-known reporter, Darcy Branch, and former cheerleader, Brittany Mahoney, are found dead on her property, Cassidy and the gang have to find the killer before the party’s over. And the more Cassidy and her Chihuahua mix, Elvis, dig for clues, the more deadly secrets they uncover—including one that changes everything she knows about her family’s history.
The Pearly Girls need to solve the case before the Class of 2009 goes down in Ivy Springs history as the deadliest reunion.
The Sasquatch of Hurricane Ridge by my friend, KB Jackson, also released this week.
Cryptids beware . . . Jake, Jasmine, and Lanny, the Sasquatch Hunters of Washington, Inc., are at it again in the fourth book of the ever-popular Sasquatch Hunters series!
Fresh from their adventure in Scotland, the Sasquatch Hunters are headed to the Olympic Peninsula, the place where it all began when Jake’s grandpa first saw a Bigfoot. However, they aren’t the only ones pursuing the legendary cryptids on the peninsula. The crew of Jake’s favorite TV show, Bigfoot Believers, is filming an episode there. Another young team of Sasquatch stalkers also arrives. Will a friendly rivalry turn ugly? And which team will be the first to prove Bigfoot exists and get their TV show shot at fame?
Jake, Jasmine, and Lanny, members of The Sasquatch Hunters of Washington, Inc., are in for their greatest challenge yet as they encounter extreme competition in their quest to locate a Bigfoot. In author K.B. Jackson’s fourth title in the series, readers will dive even further into the adventures of the Sasquatch hunters but also learn more about the characters themselves and how their personal lives come to define their friendships.
Today, I’d like to welcome my friend, Ruth J. Hartman.
Thanks, Jackie, for inviting me today!
Hi, everyone, 😊
I’m Ruth J. Hartman, and I write cozy mysteries with a feline twist. I’m so excited for the upcoming release of my newest book, Wings of Deceit. It’s Book 3 in my Seneca James Mysteries. Books 1 and 2, Butterfly Betrayal and Murder at the Painted Wings Café are available now.
The main character, Seneca, owns a butterfly farm and The Painted Wings Café. Her cousin, Evie, runs the café for her, along with their blustery but caring chef, Murray. And Seneca’s best friend is Cody, the town sheriff, who Seneca sometimes wishes was more than a friend.
Seneca has a secret weapon named Winifred. She’s Seneca’s ginger cat, who insists on wearing a different butterfly costume every day. Not only is Winifred an excellent little advertisement at the farm, she’s also a huge help when Seneca finds herself in the middle of yet another murder in Maple Junction.
In Wings of Deceit, a murder happens at a wedding reception. Once again, Seneca is nearby, since she’s there to do a monarch butterfly release for the bride and groom. She’s involved further when Evie, who’s just reconnected with her old boyfriend, comes to her for help. Evie’s boyfriend seems to be the main suspect!
Watch for the release of Wings of Deceit to see what happens next.
I have several books coming up in the future. My Bookshop Kitties Mysteries will be re-published with three new books added. And a brand new series will also be coming up this year too!
If you like quirky cozy mysteries with sidekick kitties, you might like my books.
Thanks for tuning in today. Looking forward to sharing my new books with you!
It’s always good for me to take a moment to reflect on the reason for Christmas. If you’d ever like to have a conversation about Jesus, please reach out to me.
Sophie Becker owns Sophie’s Bakery on the town square in Lutz, Texas. She’s Emma Justice’s best friend in A Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mystery series.
Springerles are German cookies that require special molds or rolling pins. My ancestors brought these molds to America many years ago, and they have remained in the family.
Here’s one recipe for Springerles.
Ingredients:
cooking spray
1 ½ tablespoons crushed anise seeds
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
Spray 4 cookie sheets with cooking spray; sprinkle with anise seeds and set aside until needed.
Mix flour and baking powder in a large bowl until well blended. Place sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a separate large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until light and frothy, 5 to 8 minutes. Gradually stir flour mixture into egg mixture to form a thick dough.
Working with handfuls of dough at a time, roll out onto a lightly floured surface until 1/4 inch thick. Lightly sift confectioners’ sugar over the dough. Place springerle molds onto dough; press down hard and evenly until the mold’s design registers in dough. Remove the mold. Use a small knife to cut around each cookie, and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Repeat, until all dough has been used. Cover cookies with a lightweight cotton cloth, and allow to dry for 8 hours, or overnight.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
Bake cookies in preheated oven until tops are pale brown and cookies are set, 25 – 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
I hope you and your family have a warm and cozy Christmas.
I hope you are having an amazing Christmas season! To make it even better, I have a special giveaway just for you! I have joined Celebrate Lit and several other authors to bring you the Merry Christmas Readers Giveaway. You have a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card and over 45 books.
Don’t miss your chance to enter! Just click the link below!
The owner of Bell Bridge Books decided to retire and close the business, and she gave me back the rights to Bite the Dust.
So, I have self-published a revised edition of Bite the Dust. Here’s the cover.
What do you think?
Here’s what Meez Carrie said about the book:
i fell in love with these characters!
“Before reading the latest Low Country Dog Walker mystery by Jackie Layton, I went back and (finally) read the 1st book, Bite the Dust, and promptly fell head over heels for this cast of characters. Particularly Andi Grace & Marc – and even more particularly Andi Grace & Marc together as a couple, pretend or otherwise. Their respective dogs burrowed quickly into my heart as well, and the supporting players who fill in the rest of the cast are also great additions. The plot of Bite the Dust was intriguing and complex, with plenty of surprising twists & turns that kept me on my figurative toes from start to finish. What impressed me the most, though, was the warm tone of the author’s writing voice – it’s a warmth that wraps around you as you read, without overpowering the story or making it saccharine. Instead, you just want to snuggle in & keep reading.”
Here’s another review on B&N. “Love Jackie’s books!
I love Jackie’s cozy mysteries. Andi Grace is a plucky, determined, and caring dog walker. In book one she’s trying to get her business off the ground when her dear friend and client is killed. Unfortunately the detective on the case pegs Andi Grace as a suspect. With help from a handsome new friend, she investigates the murder and discovers an unbelievable secret. The Low Country is the perfect place to spend some time as the story unfolds. I’ve read and reviewed book two of the series, Dog-Gone Dead, and loved it, too. If you enjoy clean, cozy mysteries, you’ll love this book. Take this one on vacation!”
And one more review on B&N: “Great new cozy mystery with great characters!
Bite The Dust is the debut of a new Christian cozy mystery with a lot of heart. The cozy mystery is intriguing with some twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end! The characters are likable and interesting. Andi Grace has a dog walking business. She is dog sitting for her friend Peter. When she goes to his house to take care of his puppy, she finds him dead and meets Marc, Peter’s neighbor. There are several suspects but the same few stay on Andi Grace’s suspect list . My one observation is the only background we get on Marc is when he was a child but some aspects of his life are left up in the air, like why he quit practicing law. Maybe it will be resolved in the next book. This was a very enjoyable book and a very pleasant debut! I can’t wait to read the next book.”
Friends, reviews mean the world to me and to all authors. Thanks for your support and encouragement these past five years!
Here’s the blurb for Bite the Dust.
Secrets can be deadly.
One steamy South Carolina morning, Low Country dog walker Andi Grace Scott discovers a client’s dead body. Police quickly decide she’s the prime suspect. Horrified, she knows she’ll have to turn detective if she’s going to convince them they’re barking up the wrong tree.
Proving her innocence could be a tall order. The local police never solved the hit-and-run that killed her parents; Andi Grace isn’t sure they’ll solve this crime either…not when they have a convenient suspect—one caught with the possible murder weapon in her hand. She’ll have to follow every clue and call in every favor, even if that puts her in danger.
If you love strong heroines, coastal small-town life, and dogs, you’ll love Bite the Dust.
“Andi Grace is adorable, resilient, and has a doggedly curious need to solve a murder. A pleasure to read.” –C. Hope Clark, award winning author of Edisto Tidings
I hope you’re having a great month, and happy reading!
Killer Secrets is the third book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery series.
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?
If you’re interested in some fun Christmas bookish activities, I’ll participate in a few this week.
Tuesday, December 2, I’ll participate in Murder, They Write’s Christmas Party on Facebook. It will be a lot of fun and there will be prizes.
I’ll be blogging at 1:00 ES and live at 6:00 ES. But join us whenever you can.
If you’re in the Pawleys Island area, I’ll participate in Shine Bright, Friday night, at the Presbyterian church. Please stop by and say hi.
Then on Saturday, at 3:30 ES, I’ll be hosting at the Cozy Mystery Party Holiday Party.
Jackie Layton 