The Baron’s Cufflinks #MFRWHooks

This week I’m presenting a snippet from The Baron’s Cufflinks, the third book in the Oak Grove Mysteries. Harmony Duprie, my main character is up to her usual shenanigans—finding trouble.

     A couple of DUI’s and one arrest for marijuana possession do not a villain make. I was almost disappointed. Other than a few waitresses he’d manhandled, Tadd didn’t seem to have any enemies. He wasn’t necessarily popular, but no one hated him. Not on record, at least. So who had the motive to kill him?
     A talk with my favorite FBI agent seemed to be in order.
     Not that I particularly liked Agent Felton. But I only knew two FBI agents and couldn’t tolerate the other one. Although Felton didn’t count as a friend, he wasn’t an enemy either. Still, it surprised me when he agreed to meet for lunch, no questions asked.
     I spotted him right away when I entered the small Chinese buffet place, his suggestion, near his office. He stuck out like a sore thumb amid the crowd of secretaries having lunch. It had been a few months since I’d seen him, and gray hairs were now scattered in with the brown. Meeting him on his home turf meant I’d need to be on my best behavior, but I was good with that.
     The restaurant’s Shanghai soup dumplings were a treat and I was on my second serving when Felton wearied of our sporadic chit-chat. “You didn’t call me to talk about the weather. Or to tell me you’ve realized that you’re deeply in love with me. What is it you want, Miss Duprie?”
     I could play it for kicks or play it straight. The choice seemed obvious if I didn’t want to tick him off. I swallowed and looked him square in the eye. “Information. Do you know anything about a guy by the name of Tadd Foard?”
     The agent leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and thought for a moment. “Can’t say that I do. Why?”
     “He was murdered a few days ago.”
      “And you care why? Are you sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong again?” He grinned as he raised a spoonful of the egg drop soup towards his mouth.
     “I may be a suspect.”

     We spent the next few minutes cleaning up the soup that had sprayed everywhere.


Blurb:

What starts as Girl’s Night Out ends in murder, and Harmony Duprie is a suspect.

She’s innocent, of course, but with no alibi, the sheriff’s department won’t remove her from the list of suspects. It doesn’t help when a waitress from the bar gets beaten up and the only clue is a slip of paper with Harmony’s name on it. Throw in a rookie deputy dead set on building his reputation and Harmony must tread carefully.
But caution isn’t Harmony’s middle name and she plunges head first into danger to defend her honor.
What she finds is a web of half-truths and suspicions implicating several law enforcement agencies, with Jake, her ex-lover, stuck in the middle of it all.

Can Harmony rescue Jake and find the real culprit before she becomes the next victim?

The Baron’s Cufflinks is available at here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1232223538

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072P6CD3D

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-baron-s-cufflinks

Books2read Universal https://www.books2read.com/u/b5OVGp

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-barons-cufflinks-pj-maclayne/1126317718?ean=2940157511692

Top Ten #OpenBook Blog Hop

Here’s my Top Ten list of  things I like to do.

10. Going to work. Most days, anyway. I actually like my job and my coworkers. They joke around with me about my writing (in a kind way) and help keep my ego in check.

9. Exploring back roads in my Jeep. It’s a kick to be able to go places I wouldn’t dare try in a car.

8. Play on the computer. I didn’t touch my first computer until I was over 30, and I haven’t been without one since.

7. Talk to people. Or at least observe them from a distance. People’s individual stories are amazing. We are a weird collection, we humans.

6. Needlepoint. I love how it combines both artistic and mathematical components.

5. Be outside. Whether it’s doing yard work, going for a walk, shoveling snow or going for a hike, I like being outside.

4. Writing my stories. Now sharing them with my readers means they have to be edited first, (which I don’t enjoy!) and that’s what knocks this down from on the list.

3. Reading. I love to read. I don’t read as much as I used to because life happens.

2. Play with my grandkids. Okay, play with the oldest and hold the little one. Especially as he’s starting to smile.

1. You knew this was coming. Spending time in the mountains with my hubby. Whether its a couple of days or a couple of hours, I’ll take it.

What’s your Top Ten?

November 27, 2017 – Top 10 – Share your top 10 favorite movies, books or things to do.
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Wordpress:

Custom Blog:

An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code

Crossword puzzle #OpenBook blog hop

The challenge this week was to make a crossword puzzle with clues and answers from our books. I suggest you don’t try this on your cell phone. 🙂 If there’s something you get stuck on, let me know in the comments and I’ll give you an additional hint. Have fun!

November 20, 2017 – Create a game or puzzle for one or more of your books. You can do this on crosswords.com, puzzle creator and more sites and embed them in your blog so you have an online puzzle or game for readers to complete.
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Wordpress:

Custom Blog:

An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code

Stories Of Sun, Sand & Sea- Mistletoe and Palm Trees #MFRWHooks


Love on the Dunes is my contribution to the collection Stories of Sun, Sand & Sea- Mistletoe & Palm Trees.  In this scene, Carena Galloway, my heroine, is confronted by a stalker.

     What had she been thinking? Carena opened the door of the portable toilet to find a familiar face glaring at her. There was no way past the hulk lurking in the shadow, blocking her way. Jack Smith had found her, and the scowl on his face didn’t help at all.
     “You got the pictures,” he growled. “I expect them in my email by tonight.”
     “First of all, Mr. Smith,” Carena raised her hands and made air quotes, “They aren’t your grandparents. Second, I never agreed to give you any pictures. Third, you can’t afford to pay what I charge for my services as a photographer. Last but not least, I’m tired of you bothering me. So why don’t you run along to whatever hole you hide in and leave me alone?”
     One corner of his top lip curled up. “Brave words, girly. I can make your life hell if you don’t give me what I’m asking for. You’ll cooperate if you know what’s good for you.”

     “And I suggest you get out of my way.” Carena sized him up. He was a good fifty pounds heavier and several inches taller than her. Chances of pushing him out of the way were slim. She took a deep breath and shifted her feet in the sand that covered the concrete block, looking for solid footing.
Stories of Sun, Sand & Sea – Mistletoe & Palm Trees. “Makes for ten holiday celebrations like none other. Sunny skies. Check. Palm Trees. Check. Beaches. Maybe. Family. Sometimes. Love and Romance. Double Check. Scrumptious food and a few cocktails. Triple Check. Murder. At least one.

Ten novellas written with heart felt holiday spirit that will make you laugh, bring tears to your eyes, warmth to your soul, intrigue to your psyche, with just enough romance to make you wish for more.

Only 99¢
Available for a limited time 

Preparing for the Holidays #OpenBook Blog Hop

I’m not the kind of person who decorates for every holiday. Not New Years, not the 4th of July, not Halloween, not Thanksgiving. Christmas is my one exception,

So getting ready for the holidays is fairly laid back. Thanksgiving is just a big meal, timing dependent upon work schedules. At least, that’s the way it’s been for the past ten years. This year will be different because my daughter and her family will be joining us. And I don’t have any idea what my son-in-law’s favorite food is! So I’ll probably cook extra dishes to improve the odds.  Maybe both turkey and ham instead of only one type of meat.

Now Christmas is a different story. I actually decorate for Christmas. I have boxes and boxes of Christmas “stuff.” Now, I don’t go overboard and decorate every inch of every surface. In fact, this year, with a little one around, I’ll need to cut back on the knickknacks.

But decorating means cleaning first. Not spring cleaning level of cleanliness, but not the typical quick dust and vacuuming either. Since I usually have a long weekend after Thanksgiving, I have the time and energy to tackle the job.

The decorations come out in bits and pieces. Putting them out requires finding storage spots for all the “daily” knickknacks.  Never once have I managed to get all the decorations up in one day. I can’t remember the last time I even tried!

Usually my collections of wreaths goes up first. One on the front door of course, then others throughout the interior of the house. ( I’ve got six or seven. And I might break down and buy a fresh pine wreath too.) Then my angels get moved from my writing corner to the upstairs. I usually add one a year to the collection.

Of course, the central focus is the tree itself. That alone will take me several days to get up and decorated. I have more ornaments than tree, so it’s always a debate as to which ones to use. I suspect my older, plastic ornaments will make a reappearance this year, strategically placed on the bottom branches.

Somewhere along the way, I’ll find a home for all the other holiday frills I’ve accumulated over the years. (I still have the little drummer boy candle holder my mother gave to us our first married Christmas!)  A few might even creep into my bedroom. I’ve discovered a forgotten decoration in some odd place as late as February, long after everything else has been long put away.

Putting things away is a much faster process. I can usually get that done in less than a week. The house always feels bare for a while, until all the normal things come back out of storage.

So that sums up my standard preparation for the holidays. And now, before I start thinking about what will go where this year, I’m going to hop over and see what everyone else does to get ready.

November 13, 2017 – As the holidays begin rolling in, what do you do to prepare your house, yourself and your family for the hectic days ahead?
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Wordpress:

Custom Blog:

An InLinkz Link-up:

get the InLinkz code

Release Day! Stories of Sun, Sand & Sea— Mistletoe and Palm Trees


It’s Release Day!


Stories of Sun, Sand & Sea –
Mistletoe and Palm Trees- Media Kit
Title: Stories of Sun, Sand & Sea – Mistletoe and Palm
Trees
Genre: Adult Romantic Suspense
Publication Date: Nov. 7, 2017
Publisher: Rolling
Thunder Publishing
Format: eBook
ASIN: B0763GGJBR
Inktera
Tolino: 
*****
Book Description: 
Stories of Sun, Sand & Sea – Mistletoe &
Palm Trees. “Makes for ten holiday celebrations like none other. Sunny
skies. Check. Palm Trees. Check. Beaches. Maybe. Family. Sometimes. Love and
Romance. Double Check. Scrumptious food and a few cocktails. Triple Check.
Murder. At least one.

Ten novellas written with heart felt holiday
spirit that will make you laugh, bring tears to your eyes, warmth to your soul,
intrigue to your psyche, with just enough romance to make you wish for more.
Celebrate with us!”  The ten authors of
Indie Publishing Coalition. 
Search Terms: Multiple Authors, Vacation Destinations, Christmas Stories,
Holiday Books, Romantic Suspense, Romance
*****
Blurbs: 
Judith Lucci:  Biloxi Beach Murders
(Book 2)
Tag Line – The Gulf Coast Can be Deadly
Kat, who finishes her graduate degree in Art
History in December, travels from Washington, DC where she is interning at the
Smithsonian Museum to Biloxi for some Thanksgiving holiday fun with her
friends. Everyone is there including – her former main squeeze Liam. A great
time turns sour when one of her old friends from the University of New Orleans
is found beaten and bruised, floating in a fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico.
*****
Lilian Robert:   Waves
of Passion
Lindsey is a stunning young woman full of life,
smart, efficient and ambitious, she surrounds herself with quality friends and
has gained the respect of coworkers, superiors, and friends. 

Her heartbreaking separation from a five-year relationship left a void that
someday would need to be filled. But at this point, romance seemed like unsafe
territory.

And just about the time she thought she had achieved an impenetrable,
relationship-proof fortress, Paul, a virtual friend on Facebook, sweeps he
thoughts away and sets her nights on fire. If he is anything like what she had
built in her mind, he would be a force to be reckoned. Lindsey is just about to
find out.

*****
PJ Fiala:   Copper
Moon – Colby
Aubree Norman has run Norman House Inn since she
was twenty years old. Boyfriends have come and gone, not understanding her need
to keep her grandparents home viable and running. Settling in to grow old in
the beautiful Victorian and make her bed & breakfast the place to be, she
killing it.

When fire jumper, Colby Landon comes to town he brings excitement with him.
First, the hotel burns down other fires soon follow. As the flame burns hot
between Aubree and Colby, will their love have a chance to grow or will the
arsonist’s torch turn their newfound flame into smoldering embers?

*****
Cherime MacFarlane:   Wild
in Willow
The Larkin family plans to celebrate Christmas a
little early due to a commitment made by the oldest son. But things are brewing
in the background that may make it Wild in Willow. Irene Maddox is accompanying
her friend Libby to the celebration. Can the family survive the blow up? Only
time will tell.
*****
Nicole Sorrell:  The Art of Getting Away
Carlos is head over heels for his sassy girl
Andie, and he wants their first Christmas together to be extra special. A
romantic escape to the lake cabin where they met will be perfect. But Andie’s
ex-boyfriend interrupts his plans, begging her to give him a second chance.
Carlos suspects the former gang member isn’t telling Andie the truth, and
decides he’s going to do whatever it takes to keep her. And if that means
fighting dirty…
*****
Angel Sefer:  Deadly Paradise
When Angelos Dimitriou a devastatingly handsome
prominent attorney from Athens finds Natasha Ioannou unconscious on the steep
rocks of a remote beach on Naxos, he is caught in a web of conspiracy,
extortion, and greed. But the feisty and brave young woman with the emerald
eyes captivates his soul, and Angelos throws caution to the wind in order to
protect her. Caught in the eye of the storm, Natasha finds it hard to trust
anyone. Will she ever open up to Angelos? And will he be able to save the
blonde beauty from the threat hovering over her?
*****
Sybil Shae:  One More Day: Surviving the Waves
After the hurricane Chloe’s life was in
shambles, much like the buildings and the land around her, everything was
destroyed. Her home, her family and her love all torn apart by a single wave.
There was nothing left for her at Luna Beach. She moved away and spent years
struggling to put her life back together. Just when she is starting to feel a
small sense of normalcy, a Christmas Card arrives in the mail. What it says
sets her emotions and her sanity into a whirlwind.
*****
P.J. MacLayne:  Love on the Dunes
Sunny skies, sandy beaches, palm trees and
swimsuits. It wasn’t like any Christmas Carena Galloway had ever known. She
missed her family and worried about her relationship with her boyfriend, Aiden
Wade. A picnic on the beach with friends was just the thing to distract her
from her problems. Meeting a celebrity was a bonus.

But she never counted on attracting a stalker.

*****
Stephany Tullis:  Baby Boomer Bash
TAG LINE: Baby Boomers ONLY! No family allowed.
High
school friends Sherry Mattison and Maddy Meriweather refuse to allow their
adult children to ruin their love of Christmas and the family based traditions
that are so near and dear to their hearts. Unlike Ebenezer Scrooge and the
Grinch, they don’t decide to cancel this year’s Christmas, nor do their hearts
harden. Instead of presenting their annual plea for an extended family
Christmas like those of the good old days, the baby boomers greet their
families on Thanksgiving Day with a new attitude and a feisty festive spirit
that includes a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner: pot luck!
Their
daughters are shocked but pleased when Christmas plans are not discussed as the
family watches the Thanksgiving Day parade. Everyone is relieved that football
half time focuses on another round of desserts and no mention of drawing names
for the family Christmas gift exchange.
Sherry
and Maddy kick off their plans for their Baby Boomer Christmas celebration with
a Black Friday shopping spree. And then the thirty-day count-down begins!
Will the
boomers’ plans implode when someone blows the whistle on their European beach
vacation?

 
*****
Valerie J. Clarizio:  Jess & Sam’s Story
After twenty years, Jess returns home to care
for her ailing mother. Close proximity to the man she once loved who’d dumped
her on the very day she expected a marriage proposal reawakens her broken heart
and strengthens her vow to never put faith in a man.

By his own choice, Sam’s the most elusive bachelor in town, his walls of
defense firmly in place. But when the feisty little brunette he dated in high
school and college moves back, Sam needs to step up his game, stiffening those
walls to concrete. True love? A forever union? What kind of idiot believes in
that?

No matter which way Sam and Jess turn in their little home town, they run into
each other. And stumbling under the mistletoe isn’t what either one needs.

*****
About the Authors
Judith Lucci:
Judith
Lucci writes what she knows…..Hospitals, Patients, Physicians and Health
Care. She adds suspense and intrigue along with well developed plots, vivid
descriptions and memorable characters, and produces medical thrillers that few
readers can put down.

Dr. Lucci is the author of the Alexandra Destephano Series, a series of medical
thrillers that offer fans an escape into the busy world of a fictitious
world-class hospital in New Orleans.

Author web
links:
____________________________________________________________________________
Lilian Roberts:
Lilian
Roberts is a corporate engineer. College, and the corporate world kept Lilian’s
writing on the back burner for a few years. It wasn’t until later on in life
that she decided to sit in front of the computer and finally put her thoughts
on paper. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia. She is an avid reader and loves novels
that feature characters draped in passion, mystery, and adventure. She is
especially fascinated with the concept of immortality.

Lilian is the author of the Immortal Rapture series, eight paranormal,
captivating, romance novels. A young British girl Arielle Lloyd with special
gifts and an immortal man Sebastian Gaulle find their way to each other and
want nothing more than to pledge their undying love to the world. For five
centuries Sebastian has sought the one soul who can fulfill his dreams of
everlasting love. Then he meets Arielle, whose heart calls out to him like no
other.

Author web
links:
_________________________________________________________________________________
PJ Fiala:
Writing has been a desire my whole life.  Once I found the courage to write, life
changed for me in the most profound way. Bringing stories to readers that I’d
enjoy reading and creating characters that are flawed, but lovable is such a
joy.
When not writing, I’m with my family doing
something fun.  My husband, Gene, and I
are bikers and enjoy riding to new locations, meeting new people and generally
enjoying this fabulous country we live in.
I come from a family of veterans. My grandfather,
father, brother, two sons, and one daughter-in-law are all veterans. Needless
to say, I am proud to be an American and proud of the service my amazing family
has given.
Author web links:
Website:
www.pjfiala.com            
Amazon
Author Page: 
http://www.amazon.com/author/pjfiala  
_________________________________________________________________________________
Cherime MacFarlane:
Meet
Award-Winning, Best-Selling Author Cherime MacFarlane. A prolific multi-genre
author, she has a broad range of interests that reflect her been there-done
that life. Romance, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, all sorts of
characters and plots evolve from a vivid imagination.
I came to Alaska kicking and screaming in 1975, and I never want to leave. I
cut firewood on shares for money to get through the winter. I swore I would not
live above the Alaska Range because it was too cold there and wound up in the
Copper River Basin where it got just a cold as Fairbanks.
My second husband, a Scot from Glasgow, was the love of my life. When I write
Scots dialect, I experienced hearing it from my in-laws. Each time my husband
got on the phone to Scotland after five seconds, I could hardly understand a
word. I was my second husband’s chief mechanic’s helper and roadie.
I live in a cabin which is slowly being surrounded by the city and wish I were
further out. My two cats and Husky-Collie mix dog are happy in our little slice
of heaven called Alaska. In the silence of winter dreams of people and places
provide a rich pool of ideas to explore.
Author web
links:
_________________________________________________________________________________
Nicole Sorrell:
My first love was reading. From the age of ten I read
everything I could get my hands on. I was seventeen the first time I closed a
book and thought, I want to do that. Write a story that good. It took a
few years, but I finally published my first novel, joining the ranks of
contemporary fiction authors. I included everything I love in a book. It’s
a romance story, has suspense and surprise, and with book two, became a women’s
fiction series.  

 I’m still a voracious reader, currently residing in a rural area of the
mid-west. After living in various parts of the U.S. and traveling abroad, I
recently moved into the very same home where I grew up. I enjoy country living:
ours is a small community, and everyone knows everybody. The culture of the
city also draws me in: the shopping, dining, and the opera and ballet. 

I
love traveling, especially to other countries, and I speak Spanish. I earned a
Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Literature, and a Bachelor of Science in Fashion
Merchandising. Home decorating is one of my favorite things. Of course I love
to read, and I’m a published poet. I like baking pies and drinking ale.
Oh, and I like playing cornhole, and I spend way more time than I should
playing computer games.

My sidekick is a tiny Yorkshire terrier named Georgie Doodlebug. I call her
GiGi. She’s my fur baby.

Author
web links:
Angel Sefer:
Multiple
award-winning, bestselling author Angel Sefer was born in Athens, Greece and
has studied and worked on both sides of the Atlantic. She holds a degree in
Economics and divides her time between the corporate world and her true
passion: writing mystery, thriller, and suspense romances where passion flares
and danger lurks around every corner.

Angel lives in Athens, Greece, with the two loves of her life—her son and her
husband—and is a member of several writers groups.

Author web
links:
_________________________________________________________________________________
Sybil Shae:
For Love,
Real Love, The Kind Of Love That Lasts Forever….Sybil

Sitting in a chair, at a desk with headphones on, typing away…That’s where
you’ll find Sybil Shae most days. She loses track of time and reality as she
dives into her romance world, becoming one with her characters and growing with
them as they appear through words on the tablet screen in concert with the
imagery of a fool’s paradise we all visit in our dreams.
Sybil Shae writes romance, both spicy romance reads and clean reads. She feels
it, breathes it, and has built her world around it. Love is at the center of
all things. Welcome to Sybil’s world.

Sybil Shae DOES NOT write Erotica by any means, even the Spicy parts aren’t as
spicy as most others on the market. She writes with Love as the central plot
rather than adult content.

Author web
links:
_________________________________________________________________________________
P.J. MacLayne:
A computer
geek by day and a writer by night, P.J. MacLayne grew up in the rolling hills
of Pennsylvania and sets much of her writing in that landscape. She currently
lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains.
Author web
links:

Interview with Jake #OpenBook Blog Hop

Today I’m
interviewing Jake Hennessey, who appears in the Oak Grove Mysteries.
I ran into Jake at one of the small corner bars in Oak Grove when I
was there on other business. And I mean literally ran into him. I had
my face buried in my phone texting my mother and wasn’t watching
where I was going when I bumped into him. I knew who he was because
of my previous interview with Harmony Duprie, the main character of my Oak
Grove Mysteries. Of course, I offered to buy him a beer to replace
the one that got spilled. And to keep him company while he drank it
since he was alone. Which was surprising, because I noticed other
women in the bar eyeing him the whole time we were together.
After we got
introductions and pleasantries out of the way, and after I bought him
a second beer, I got down to business. He agreed to answer my
questions as long as I didn’t ask about any of his legal issues. I
reluctantly agreed.
Me: So is this your
night off or are you still job hunting?
Jake: It’s the
middle of the week, so I have the night off. The club I’m working for
doesn’t get enough business to justify a bouncer except on weekends.
Luckily, they let me bartend a few nights too, but when I’m not
working I like to scope out the competition.
He flashed a toothy
grin and I couldn’t help but smile back. His eyes followed a waitress
as she wandered past.
Jake: (with a wink.)
I especially like checking out the staff at the competition. The
waitresses at the club are off-limits.
Me: Your rule or
theirs?
Jake: By mutual
agreement. They’re fun to flirt with, but I wouldn’t want any of them
to think I was seriously interested in them.
Me: Is there anyone
you are interested in?
Jake: Nope. I’m
still letting my broken heart heal after being dumped by Harmony. (He
thumped his fist against his chest, and flashed his grin again. I
wasn’t sure whether to take him seriously so I switched topics.
Me: I know you’ve
traveled a lot. What is your favorite city?
Jake: San Francisco.
So many cool old houses. A lot of them have been restored, but there
are still more falling apart. I wish I had the money available to buy
a couple and fix them up.
Me: Doesn’t Oak
Grove have houses needing restored?
Jake: Sure. But the
real estate market here is slow, and there’s no guarantee I’d be able
to sell them at a profit. In San Fran, they’d get gobbled up in a
heartbeat. Besides, no one there knows my reputation and I could
start over again. Oak Grove is too small for that.
Me: So why do you
stick around?
Jake (shrugging his
shoulders) : For Harmony. She needs someone to look after her. That
girl attracts trouble like no one else I’ve ever known. Me included,
of course, but at least I’m trying to make up for it. I wish Eli was
here to take care of her, but he’s too busy down in Florida.
I notice him
studying my ring and knowing his reputation as a jewel thief, moved
my hand into my lap. He shook his head, smirked, and took a drink of
his beer.
Jake: See what I
mean? Even you do it. I can’t admire someone’s jewelry without them
getting all uptight. Nice ring, by the way. Was it passed down to
you? Looks antique.
Me: Thanks. It was
my grandmother’s. And sorry about that.
Jake: Yeah, I’m used
to it, unfortunately. By the way, you might want to ask someone to
check the setting of the opal. It looks loose. I’d hate for you to
lose the stone.
Before I asked him
how he could tell, he downed the rest of his beer and stood.
Jake: I’m headed
out. Enjoy the rest of your visit. Tell Harmony hi if you see her
again.
Then, without a
backward glance, he swaggered to the front door of the bar,  without even stopping to flirt with a waitress, and
disappeared.

The Oak Grove Mysteries are available here https://www.amazon.com/Oak-Grove-Mysteries-3-Book/dp/B072F4WBWH  or check out the My Books page of this blog.

And now that I’ve managed to offend Jake, I’m going to finish my beer and go check out the character interviews by the rest of the authors.

November 6, 2017 – Pick a character from one of your books and interview him or her.
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Wordpress:

Custom Blog:

An InLinkz Link-up

get the InLinkz code

Inspiration #OpenBook Blog Hop

In the words of an old camp song:

I love the mountains,
I love the rolling hills,
I love the flowers,
I love the daffodils,
I love the fireside,
When all the lights are low

       

Some of my earliest memories take place in the out of doors. We lived in the country, and I remember my mother telling me I could go as far as I wanted as long as I could still see the tops of the willow trees that grew alongside the house. Then the area expanded to as far as I could go and still hear her call that it was time to go home. The older I got, the larger the “safe” zone for me to explore got.

I discovered the old tree that had fallen across the nearby creek and served as a bridge. I followed the creek to the springs that bubbled out of the ground and fed it. I knew here the wild huckleberries and blackberries grew.

I stood quietly and admired the ancient buck I came across until he got tired of me and walked away. I tracked the path of a field mouse in the first winter snow. I sat by the edge of a remote pond and watched the tadpoles at play.

It should come as no surprise that I draw inspiration for my writing from nature. Not only do I try to write outdoor scenes into my stories, I find I’m most creative when I get a “fix” from nature. Going for a walk, or driving down a mountain road, or just sitting in my back yard and soaking in the sun.

Even when I can’t get away, I bring nature to me. My screensaver is a rolling compilation of my favorite nature photos—mountains, flowers, rocks, trees, and combinations of all of these.

So what inspires you? Feel free to share in the comments. In the meantime, I’m going to go find out what inspired the others on this hop.

October 30, 2017 – Inspiration. Where do you get your inspiration for writing? When you’re running low on ideas or creative flow, how do you get your inspiration back?
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Wordpress:

Custom Blog:

An InLinkz Link-up:

get the InLinkz code

How To Go For A Walk #OpenBook Blog Hop

There’s lots of advice on walking on the intranet.Walking fast vs. slow. How far to go. What to wear. How to get in the most steps for your fitness device. Don’t bother googling it, because I am going to tell you how to break the rules.

Start by finding your most comfortable shoes. They don’t have to be fancy or expensive or a certain manufacturer. You just want to be able to get home without blisters.

Dress for the weather. Coat, no coat, pants or shorts, tank top or sweatshirt. That’s going to change day by day. If you’re going into the woods (we’ll get to that) take bug spray.

Ready? Not until you’ve turned off your cell phone. (Or at least turned down the volume.) Leave your MP3 player by the computer. You don’t need it.

Now, where are you going? Around the block? Out to the back 40? Maybe to the park down the way? it doesn’t matter. Take a deep breath and walk out the door, locking it behind you if necessary. When you get outside, stop for a minute. Look up at the sky. Is it sunny or are the stars out? Take another deep breath, and this time smell the world. Is the neighbor barbecuing or is that the smell of falling leaves. All that’s left is to move one foot in front of another.

It doesn’t matter if you go slow of fast. This isn’t about where you are going or how quickly you get there. It’s about the journey. At the house down the street, stop and admire the potted flowers on the windowsill. Or watch the red-tailed hawk circling overhead. Or savor the smell of salt drifting in from the ocean.

Don’t let the blaring of car horns distract you from your task. Did I forget to mention that you have something to accomplish? A little nothing, really. I want you to daydream. When was the last time you did that? So feel free to take a break and sit on a big rock or park bench for a few minutes.

Then keep putting one foot in front of the other. You’re getting there. Wherever ‘there’ is. Remember, there’s no deadline. You can stop whenever you want to look around. See all those things you’ve never noticed before even if you’ve been by there five times before. Maybe it’s the dew on a spider web sparkling in the early morning sun. Or the way the clouds drift behind that skyscraper. Or the way that noisy little mutt’s body quivers with excitement when you pet him.

Listen to the world around you. Smile at the people passing by. Watch the children play. Take your time and really see the world around you. There’s beauty there.

Remember the words of the greats, Simon & Garfunkel:

“The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)”

Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feelin’ groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feelin’ groovy

Hello, lamppost, what’cha knowin’?
I’ve come to watch your flowers growin’
Ain’t’cha got no rhymes for me?
Doot-in doo-doo, feelin’ groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feelin’ groovy

I got no deeds to do
No promises to keep
I’m dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me
Life, I love you
All is groovy

And that’s how to take a walk.

Let’s find out what the other authors are sharing by following the links below.

October 23, 2017 – How to post. Pick something and explain how to do it. It can be writing related, craft related, garden related – just share how you do it.
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Wordpress:

Custom Blog:

An InLinkz Link-up:

get the InLinkz code

Wolves’ Knight Book Hooks


From Wolves’ Knight, Book 2 of the Free Wolves series. On sale for 99¢ for a short time.

     The wind picked up and a gust almost covered the sound. Tasha’s ears pricked forward at the shuffle of footsteps. A figure inched along the side of the building, stopping at a window. Tasha tightened her muscles, but didn’t move.
     Then he went on. Tasha was positive it was a male although the wind blew the wrong direction for her to catch his scent. Not even her tail twitched as he stopped at another window. Her ears caught the sound of him tapping on the glass. He moved again.
     The third window sat in a pool of darkness. But Tasha’s eyes watched as he raised the window. He grasped the window frame and started to lift himself inside.

      And Tasha exploded into a snarling mass of muscle and fangs.



Blurb: 
Tasha Roeper knows what it means to protect your own. So when her friend, Dot Lapahie, CEO of Lapahie Enterprises, suspects that the Free Wolves are under attack, Tasha immediately signs on to lead the investigation and guard Dot.
But Tasha’s not convinced it’s the Free Wolves that are the target. She fears that her own pack—the Fairwood Pack—are the actual quarry and Dot is only a decoy.
The deeper Tasha digs, the more puzzles she uncovers.
Torn between tradition and a changing world, will Tasha risk everything to save a friend—including her own life—when old enemies arise?
Buy Links