Tag: Clutter Free

Cozy mystery

Fall is the Season to Fall for a Good Book

Jackie Layton

The days are cooler and shorter. What’s cozier than curling up with a good book?

If you haven’t read all my books yet, this is a good season to catch up.

In a few months, Killer Secrets, the third book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series will release. Stay tuned for a cover reveal and more information on the release.

Clutter Free is the first book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series.

Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner.

Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Emma’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.

What are you looking forward to reading this fall?

Cozy mystery

A Party and Prizes

Jackie Layton

Tonight is the Cozy Mystery Mid Year Party on their Facebook group. Here’s the link. https://www.facebook.com/share/Zq6a1zmWxErn72rK/?mibextid=A7sQZp

If you’re not a member of the group, be sure to join. The party begins at 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

I’ll takeover at 7:00 PST which is 10:00 EST. I hope you can join us. It should be fun!

Oh, I’ll be giving away an eBook of Clutter Free.

Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner.

Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Emma’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.

I hope you can drop in tonight. Have a great week!

Cozy mystery

Summer Kick Off

Jackie Layton

It’s time for a giveaway.

There are so many good books in this giveaway, and Clutter Free is included. https://promosimple.com/ps/2ad83/2024-summer-kick-off-giveaway-share

Clutter Free is the first book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series.

Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner.

Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Emma’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.

This promo is only good until June 23, so hurry and enter.

Uncategorized

What Unique Items Do You Carry With You?

Jackie Layton

We all probably carry similar things in our purses, handbags, or whatever we carry.

Kate Sloan, professional organizer, and amateur sleuth in Fox Island, Georgia carries five items that might be unique to her.

Kate carries normal items in her polka dot handbag.

She also carries a tape measure, zipper pouches to keep organized, an envelope for receipts, hand sanitizer, and tape. She doesn’t want the inside of her purse to be cluttered, and these are the primary items she finds help her stay organized.

I’d love for you to share unique items you carry in your purse. Also, if you have suggestions for Kate, send them my way or tag me on social media.

In case you’d like to get to know Kate better, check out Clutter Free.

BACK COVER COPY:

Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner.

Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Emma’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.

Uncategorized

Christmas Organizing Tips

Jackie Layton

Yesterday, I heard people talking about Christmas. They are not ready and don’t know what to do. This got me to thinking. Does Kate Sloan, amateur sleuth in Clutter Free, have any tips?

Yes, she does. I hope you find these tips helpful.

  1. Don’t stress over décor. One year my young son asked if we could do a Beanie Baby Christmas tree instead of the normal ornaments. For some reason, I agreed. We put lights on the tree, then we arranged the Beanie Babies, and it turned out to be a fun tree. If you’re feeling stressed this year, maybe you could decorate your tree with favorite books.
  2. Holiday cards can be sent anytime of the year, and if it simplifies your month, why not? Also, ecards are an option.
  3. For those of you who prefer giving experiences, you might buy gift cards to a movie theater, the zoo, a museum, or somewhere else fun. Gift cards can save time wrapping, and it extends the celebration after the actual holiday.
  4. Sticky notes come in handy to keep yourself organized on what gifts are going to whom.
  5. If it’s a hassle to store wrapping paper, tissue paper, and bows, use gift bags. They are easy to store, and they aren’t as bulky as the rolls of gift paper. (Of course, it is fun to create beautifully wrapped presents.)
  6. When it’s time to decorate, you may need to move furniture to make room for your holiday décor. Before unpacking your decorations, declutter and clean.
  7. If you haven’t already done so, label each tote and container. That will make it easier when you put everything away.
  8. Declutter your kitchen. Toss anything that’s expired or that you don’t use. Then go through your Christmas recipes and make your grocery shopping list, so you’ll have all the ingredients you’ll need, and they’ll be fresh.
  9. If you don’t have storage bins for your decorations, buy some that are the same size. Stack them with the heaviest on the bottom, and be sure to label them to make next year easier.
  10. Are you hosting a big meal? Plan your menu and shop for the items. Decorate your table, and plan what bowls and platters will be used. You can use sticky notes on these dishes so you’ll remember your plan on the day of your big event.
  11. Asking others to pitch in by bringing a dish, should give you some extra time to enjoy the holidays or read a book. Instead of baking a wide variety of cookies, have a cookie exchange. It simplifies life, if you only bake one kind of cookie.
  12. If you want this to be the most enjoyable time of the year, do things that make you happy. If you don’t enjoy some of your family traditions, make new traditions and memories. Make notes of the foods your family and friends raved about. Make notes on the games and activities your family enjoyed the most. Make notes of your successes and failures, and that will start paving the way for your next organized holidays. Just don’t forget where you put your notes.

I hope these tips help you enjoy your holiday celebrations. They are supposed to make your life simpler, not more challenging.

I hope your holidays are happy. Merry Christmas!

With your spare time check out this short clip. https://youtu.be/MhECGnUx4Rg

And here are some links for Clutter Free:

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/clutter-free-2 Kobo Canada: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/clutter-free-2 B&N paperback: https://bit.ly/44TLxdC Nook: https://bit.ly/3Za85p0 Kindle: https://amzn.to/47Uxxme Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PuLRuL Bookshop.org:https://bit.ly/3tASYZU9

Uncategorized

How Embarrassing

Jackie Layton

I walked into my office this morning and cringed. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks promoting Clutter Free and brainstorming a new book. It didn’t occur to me that my desk had gotten out of control.

This would require fortification, so I made my second cup of coffee then got to work. I filed marketing notes, moved paperwork not related to the new book, and threw away unnecessary items.

I kept a few notes on the new book, and I decided shifting my laptop to the left might make it easier to take handwritten notes on my right. I also have two new history books to keep nearby. So for now, I have my computer, sticky notes, pens, and reference books close by. This may only last a day, but for this rainy morning, I feel organized and ready to write.

How about you? Can you write at a messy desk?

Uncategorized

Clutter Free Blog Tour

Jackie Layton

It’s time for another blog tour.

I hope you’re able to join the fun, and there will be a giveaway. I’ll share social media links or look for Just Read Tours, starting September 11. https://justreadtours.com/

This is your opportunity to learn about Kate Sloan, Clutter Free, and maybe collect an organizing tip.

Curious about the giveaway? I’m giving away TWO books, a polka dot shopping bag, and $10.00 in Starbucks gift cards.

And this seems like a good opportunity for an announcement. Clutter Free is now available in paperback and ebook at your favorite sites.

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/clutter-free-2

Kobo Canada:  https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/clutter-free-2

B&N paperback: https://bit.ly/44TLxdC

Nook: https://bit.ly/3Za85p0

Kindle: https://amzn.to/47Uxxme

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PuLRuL

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/clutter-free-an-organized-crime-cozy-mystery-by-jackie-layton

I hope to see you on the tour.

Uncategorized

Clutter Free ebook available on Kindle

Jackie Layton

Today, Clutter Free is available on Kindle. Here’s the link https://amzn.to/47Uxxme .

If you’d like to see the book trailer, here’s that link https://youtu.be/MhECGnUx4Rg

What’s Clutter Free about?

Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner.

Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Emma’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.

I got to live in Athens, Georgia for ten years, and I’m excited to have a series set in Georgia. Fox Island is a fictional town near Savannah. When my husband and I dated, we sometimes would get up before the sun rose and drive to Tybee Island for the day. So, this is a very special area to us.

Last year, Tim and I went to Tybee Island for a few days to research the area. It’s a coastal beach town, but it’s very different than where I live. Fox Island is not Tybee, but there are some similarities.

If you look closely, you’ll see Paula Deen. She couldn’t have been nicer to us.

Thanks for your time. I’ll let you know when Clutter Free is available on other formats.

Uncategorized

Clutter Free

Jackie Layton

In preparation for the release of Clutter Free, a few friends and I will share some organizing tips.

Sue Minix shared that her coffee table needs to be organized. She said, “Pretty sure it (to organize coffee table) is on the to-do list, which is, you guessed it, on the coffee table!”

Sue has a new book coming out in September, A Chapter On Murder. Find out more on her website. https://www.sueminixauthor.com/

Grace Topping shared, “Save boxes from greeting cards, candy, etc. and use them to create drawer dividers. They keep similar things separated and organized. They are particularly useful in bathroom, powder room, and kitchen drawers.

I also do this when I take cruises. Pack small items in the boxes, and then use the open boxes to create dividers in the drawers in the ship’s cabin. It keeps things from sliding around when the ship starts bouncing around.”

Grace is the author of many cozy mysteries, including Upstaged by Murder. Learn more about Grace. https://www.gracetopping.com/

Keys used to always get misplaced at my house. I bought a wooden boat at a local boat show, and it turned out solving the problem. We now keep all keys, small flashlights, and bug spray in our wooden boat.

Stay tuned for writing tips for authors.

If you’re curious about Clutter Free, here’s the back cover blurb.

Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner.

Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Emma’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.