“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ― Oscar Wilde
“So many books, so little time.” ― Frank Zappa
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” ― Marcus Tullius Cicero
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” ― Robert Frost
“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” ― Mark Twain
I’ll end with one of my all-time favorite quotes. “Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead Walk beside me… just be my friend” ― Albert Camus
I’ve had a few people ask me how I work from home this year. I try to treat each day like a work day. I get up, talk to my husband, eat a little breakfast while watching the news, and then I spend time doing my devotionals.
The thing I’ve done differently is meeting with my critique group for thirty minutes before I begin writing. There are five of us and we share concerns about our lives and our writing. We encourage each other, and we laugh. Then we are off to start our day.
Sharee Stover, Connie Queen, and Sherrinda Ketchersid are with me in this picture. Rhonda Herren Starnes is also part of our group.
I feel more productive when I’m dressed. Even if it’s shorts and a T-shirt, I’m dressed. Sometimes I listen to music playing softly in the background.
Heinz ‘encourages’ me to take him outside throughout the day, but I try to stay focused until it’s time to fix supper.
Andi Grace Scott is back in the second book of A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery series.
If you enjoy small-town coastal life, come back to Heyward Beach, South Carolina for the second book in my cozy mystery series.
Who’d have thought mulch could cause such a stink?
Low Country dog walker Andi Grace Scott is happy to score some free mulch from one of her brother’s landscaping jobs—until she discovers the dead body buried beneath the bark.
Worse, her brother’s landscaping tools were used to commit the murder. Once the police arrest her brother and seem happy to have “caught their man,” Andi Grace has no choice but to track down the real killer. She’ll risk everything to prove her brother’s innocence. Even if it means turning over every rock in town.
Dog-Gone Dead is available for pre-order now and releases on June 26.
I’m not going to get a sunburn. I’m not going to gain weight. I’m not going to cut my bangs.
I’ve had bangs for years, decades actually, and thanks to Covid-19, I haven’t had my hair cut since January. I’ve also wondered if my hair would look better without bangs now that I live at the beach. One of my granddaughters grew out her bangs in 2019, so she’s my inspiration for trying in 2020.
Look at the determination on her face. She’s going to be my inspiration in the days ahead. Both of these girls are full of spunk and integrity. They’re two of my little heroes.
I know there are serious issues we face in the world today, but let’s take a moment for a little fun. I’m not sure what prompted me to gather Agatha Christie quotes, but I think she’d have been a great friend.
So much truth in this.
Here are a few more.
Good advice is always certain to be ignored, but that’s no reason not to give it.
I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming… suddenly you find – at the age of 50, say – that a whole new life has opened before you.
Every murderer is probably somebody’s old friend.
“It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize just how much you love them. ”
She has such a lovely sense of humor, don’t you think? “An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets, the more interested he is in her.”
I hope today’s post has given you a moment to smile. Take care my friends!
Sharee Stover is a good friend and one of my critique partners. Her newest book Untraceable Evidence is available now. It’s the first of three books in her ATF Agents series.
Scientist Ace Steele is hired by the ATF to develop a top-secret project named Ghost—a 3D printer gun that uses frangible ammunition. The components are comprised entirely of plastic, making the gun untraceable via metal detectors. The ATF is certain a mole exists who is working with a local militia. The militia’s leader will do anything to get Project Ghost.
Untraceable Evidence
Sharee recently shared that her husband is her hero. My husband Tim is my hero too, and I wonder how many authors feel the same.Sharee said, “It will sound cliché I’m sure, but it’s the truth. My husband is my real-life hero. Not only because he’s a state trooper, but because he is willing to go running toward the danger when everyone else is running away. He’s a natural problem solver and has a huge heart to serve people. He’s dug cars out of snow drifts, helped move livestock off the highway, held a child’s hand after a car accident, and been the first person to notify a family member of their loved one’s death. He also has a teaching spirit, and he loves mentoring, encouraging, and instilling wisdom in those coming up in the ranks. But he’s also tenderhearted and very romantic (far more than I am). Most of all, he loves the Lord with all his heart.”
Today is Memorial Day in the United States. It’s a time to remember and honor the military personnel who died while serving our country.
In Ecclesiastes 3 we’re told there is a time for everyting…
3 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
This year we’ve also battled COVID and have lost many people in the fight. Today I plan to take time to remember our military and also those on the front line defending us against this horrible disease.
Wherever you are I hope you have a good day of celebrating. Thanks for your sacrifice and thanks to those who have given their all.
Connie Queen is one of my critique partners, and I’m so excited to introduce you to her. Her romantic suspense, Justice Undercover comes out in June. Connie has been gracious to stop by and spend a few minutes with us.
Hi Connie, I’m so excited to have you on my blog.
Thank you! I’m honored to be your guest today.
Connie, how did you decide to write romantic suspense?
Good question. I didn’t start out writing suspense, but rather western historicals. I grew up watching westerns on television, so it seemed natural. Finally, I started reading suspense, like Mary Higgins Clark, and I loved the stories, but I always said I wasn’t smart enough to write those. When I found Love Inspired Suspense books, I knew I had found my home.
Have you had any real-life mysteries or suspenseful moments? Moments you thought you might die?
A couple.
Not sure I should be telling this in case me kids or grandkids are tuning in. When I was in high school, I would stop by my boyfriend’s house (now he’s my husband…) every morning on the way to school for 5 minutes. One morning it was really foggy, and I couldn’t see his drive. I thought I saw it and slowed to make the turn when I realized it was the wrong place and I stopped in the highway. Suddenly, a huge semi-truck whizzed past me missing me by inches. All I could think was my parents would kill me if I’d gotten hit…
Not a bright move on my part, but once I stopped to help someone who had car trouble. This was before cell phones and a man in a broken down Bronco was sitting on the side of the road about a mile from my house. I stopped and asked when I got to my house if I could call someone for him. He said no but I could give him a ride a couple of miles away. Instead of saying no like I should’ve, I didn’t want to be rude, and agreed to give him a ride. He went back to his vehicle and grabbed something from the floorboard, wrapped it in a rag, and got in my vehicle. I glanced down and realized it was a gun. I’m sure he didn’t want someone stealing it, but I put myself in an awfully bad situation. Luckily, he had no ill intentions and I dropped him off safely.
Oh my goodness Connie, how terrifying! I’m glad it turned out okay. How do you find time to write? Do you have a favorite spot to write? How about a favorite time?
I have more time to write now than I ever had. All my kids are grown, and my husband works outside of the home. Things can still distract me, as well as everyday life.
I like to write at my table in the middle of the dining room. This is why I need to the house to myself or I drive everyone crazy. I sit down early in the morning and get to work on critiques or research. But my most productive time is about 11-3.
How do you fight distractions?
If I really need to get the words in, I set a timer for 15-minute writer sprint followed by a 5-minute break for at least 4 rounds. Often, I do more, but I figure if I work from home, an hour of effort is never too much work.
Do you have a favorite place you go for inspiration? Or a favorite place to relax and renew your mind?
I love to take long walks. Not only is the exercise good for me, but just to give my mind a break and enjoy the great outdoors does wonders for my attitude.
What books are currently in your To Be Read stack?
I have several. Currently I’m in the middle of Falsely Accused by Shirlee McCoy. The Sheriff’s Second Chance by Tanya Agler is also on my list. Even though I’ve seen sneak peeks of your very own Bite the Dust, I have it on my Kindle waiting for me to enjoy.
Connie congratulations on Justice Undercover. I’m so happy for you!
Justice Undercover
Readers, Connie has graciously offered to give a copy of Justice Undercover to one lucky person who leaves a comment. The drawing is limited to residents of the Untied States. We’ll do a random drawing and announce the winner next week.
If you want to get in touch with Connie, she can be found on social media.
Beach nourishment involves dredging large amounts of sand from the water in order to widen an existing beach. The sand can come from a sandbar, a borrow area, or the ocean floor or even an inlet or waterway. In Pawleys Island the sand came from a borrow area. Engineers create a plan for shooting the sand onto the beach with the goal of making a wider beach. The wider beach protects homes, tourism, and wildlife.
Pipes are used to transport the sand to the beach. Then bulldozers and loaders spread out the sand and pack it down. You can see the sand is darker, but we’re told the sun will bleach it out.
Sections of the beach were closed off, the work took place in fall and spring in order to protect sea turtles who nest on Pawleys Island.
As you can see, the beach is wider. It had been open for a couple of weeks before closing for health reasons, but one day people will flock to the beach again. There will be more room for social distancing, and there are more shells that came up with the sand during this process.
What does this mean for a cozy mystery writer? I’m pondering all the ways to tie this process into my next book.
Jackie Layton 