P.J. MacLayne

That may be part of what makes the librarian job so perfect for Harmony. There’s a certain sense of ritual in many of the daily tasks. Shelving books, for example. Not only does it involve finding the right spot for each book, I can see her straightening up all the neighboring books in a perfect line, all the spines the exact same distance from the edge of the shelf. Or carefully arranging the magazines in the periodicals section so they are in chronological order.

 I climbed the stone steps, smiling, counting them as I had habitually done all those years ago. As a teenager, the library became my second home. One, two, three ….fifteen. There is now a wheelchair ramp in the back, but the steps are unchanged. 

June 11, 2018
whats the strangest medical or psychological condition you’ve ever given to one of your characters?

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If you could change one thing in your life and not have it affect you negatively later, what would you pick?


Let me start by saying I’d be afraid to change anything, despite the disclaimer about not affecting me negatively later. What’s the saying- for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction? Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s true. But for the sake of this blog, I’ll set that feeling aside.

If you’ve read my bio, you know I’m a computer geek. It’s my job. I won’t bore you with the technical details, but between my job and writing, I spend far too much time staring at a computer screen. And I wouldn’t change that.

So, what would I change? I’d figure out a way to get started in the computer field sooner. I was no spring chicken when I touched my first keyboard. Heck, I’m old enough that in high school, there was no such thing as keyboarding. Kids took typing classes back then.

And the test they gave predicting what field we should study didn’t even include a category for computers. I forget what the score suggested I make a career in, but it didn’t happen. Of course, personal computers didn’t exist back then, but computers were mainstream for big business.  Good programmers were sought after. But I have no desire to be a programmer.

Move ahead a few years, when personal computers started to hit the market and servers no longer filled entire rooms. That’s when I wished I gotten started. Before the dot.com boom. (I came in at the end of that era.) Of course, with my extra knowledge, I would have bought stock in technology companies while it was still cheap.

What would my life look like now if that had happened? I hate to even think about it. I have a pretty darn good job now and I wouldn’t want to mess it up. Or all the other good things in my life.

Now, let’s go find out what  the other authors would change.

June 4, 2018
If you could change one thing in your life and not have it affect you negatively later, what would you pick?

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If you could change one thing in your life and not have it affect you negatively later, what would you pick?

Let me start by saying I’d be afraid to change anything, despite the disclaimer about not affecting me negatively later. What’s the saying- for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction? Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s true. But for the sake of this blog, I’ll set that feeling aside.

If you’ve read my bio, you know I’m a computer geek. It’s my job. I won’t bore you with the technical details, but between my job and writing, I spend far too much time staring at a computer screen. And I wouldn’t change that.

So, what would I change? I’d figure out a way to get started in the computer field sooner. I was no spring chicken when I touched my first keyboard. Heck, I’m old enough that in high school, there was no such thing as keyboarding. Kids took typing classes back then.

And the test they gave predicting what field we should study didn’t even include a category for computers. I forget what the score suggested I make a career in, but it didn’t happen. Of course, personal computers didn’t exist back then, but computers were mainstream for big business.  Good programmers were sought after. But I have no desire to be a programmer.

Move ahead a few years, when personal computers started to hit the market and servers no longer filled entire rooms. That’s when I wished I gotten started. Before the dot.com boom. (I came in at the end of that era.) Of course, with my extra knowledge, I would have bought stock in technology companies while it was still cheap.

What would my life look like now if that had happened? I hate to even think about it. I have a pretty darn good job now and I wouldn’t want to mess it up. Or all the other good things in my life.

Now, let’s go find out what  the other authors would change.

June 4, 2018
If you could change one thing in your life and not have it affect you negatively later, what would you pick?

Rules:
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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.
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With the Memorial Day holiday marking the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States, the season of cookouts and camping has arrives. What are your “must haves” for these events?

I started camping when I was a Girl Scout, eons ago, and learned the basic skills. As I got older, we moved on to more advanced knowledge. I even took a forest survival course one summer (not with the Girl Scouts.)

But camping as an adult, I like to keep it simple. I don’t want to spend hours tending a fire or making sure the charcoal is at the perfect heat. I have better things to do.

There are a few things I’m willing to splurge on. Really good chocolate for S’mores and Banana Boats. Real butter for roasted corn on the cob. Better quality burger.

But food is only one part of camping. I found out, through experience, that it makes sense to buy quality equipment. A foam cooler won’t do the same job as a high quality one. A good  tent will keep you drier in a rainstorm than a cheap one. And don’t skimp on safety equipment. (Yes, a bucket and shovel are necessities for camp fire safety.)

Speaking of safety, first aid supplies need to be checked each year, expired items thrown away and new ones bought. If they have been stored in hot or cold conditions, they may expire faster than they would in a climate controlled environment. A good practice is to start fresh with everything each year just in case.

There’s one more must-have. Or two. Peace and quiet. When I go camping, I like to be in an out-of-the-way spot with as few people around as possible. I’m constantly in search of a spot that only a few people know about. Those spots are disappearing as more and more people discover the joys of camping. I think I spotted a new one this past weekend, so I’m looking forward to checking it out.

Now, even though I’m a day late, I’m off to find out what the others in this hop consider as their must-haves.

May 28, 2018
With the Memorial Day holiday marking the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States, the season of cookouts and camping has arrives. What are your “must haves” for these events?

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.

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With the Memorial Day holiday marking the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States, the season of cookouts and camping has arrives. What are your “must haves” for these events?

I started camping when I was a Girl Scout, eons ago, and learned the basic skills. As I got older, we moved on to more advanced knowledge. I even took a forest survival course one summer (not with the Girl Scouts.)

But camping as an adult, I like to keep it simple. I don’t want to spend hours tending a fire or making sure the charcoal is at the perfect heat. I have better things to do.

There are a few things I’m willing to splurge on. Really good chocolate for S’mores and Banana Boats. Real butter for roasted corn on the cob. Better quality burger.

But food is only one part of camping. I found out, through experience, that it makes sense to buy quality equipment. A foam cooler won’t do the same job as a high quality one. A good  tent will keep you drier in a rainstorm than a cheap one. And don’t skimp on safety equipment. (Yes, a bucket and shovel are necessities for camp fire safety.)

Speaking of safety, first aid supplies need to be checked each year, expired items thrown away and new ones bought. If they have been stored in hot or cold conditions, they may expire faster than they would in a climate controlled environment. A good practice is to start fresh with everything each year just in case.

There’s one more must-have. Or two. Peace and quiet. When I go camping, I like to be in an out-of-the-way spot with as few people around as possible. I’m constantly in search of a spot that only a few people know about. Those spots are disappearing as more and more people discover the joys of camping. I think I spotted a new one this past weekend, so I’m looking forward to checking it out.

Now, even though I’m a day late, I’m off to find out what the others in this hop consider as their must-haves.

May 28, 2018
With the Memorial Day holiday marking the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States, the season of cookouts and camping has arrives. What are your “must haves” for these events?

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.

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Do you read the trashy tabloids while you wait in line at the grocery store? What headlines grab your attention and why?

It’s been a long time since I’ve perused the headlines of one of those tabloids that used to grace every checkout stand in every  grocery store. I remember the days when Elvis sightings seemed to be the main headline each and every week, followed closely by alien abductions. But now I gravitate towards self-checkout (I’m faster than most of the cashiers!) so I don’t stay caught up on the “news.”

So, I decided to make a visit to the website of one of the more famous of the tabloids. With a certain royal wedding in the news, I picked a good week for it. The top headline screamed “Meghan Markle’s Secret First Husband Found.” (We all knew she’d been married before, right?)

Then we get a story about William Shatner hitting on his co-stars. Yawn. Move along.

Ah, another story inspired by the royal wedding. Decades of dirt! Bizarre lost sex secrets of the royal family! Let’s find out about what sex toys they use. Because sex sells.

 There’s about five more stories tied to the wedding, neatly interspersed with the sordid stories of other celebrities. To my disappointment, not a single Elvis or alien in site. So here’s my headline-“Elvis attends the royal wedding in disguise!”

Let’s try another one. “Meghan Markle’s first husband was an alien!” Or “Is Prince Harry a virgin?” How about “Did the ghost of Princess Diana walked Meghan Markle up the aisle?”

I could keep going- “Harry and Meghan’s marriage doomed” but I don’t want to have all the fun. Make up your own headline and share it in the comments. In the meantime, I’m going to check out and see what the other authors favorite tabloid headlines are.

May 21, 2018
Do you read the trashy tabloids while you wait in line at the grocery store? What headlines grab your attention and why?

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.

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Do you read the trashy tabloids while you wait in line at the grocery store? What headlines grab your attention and why?

It’s been a long time since I’ve perused the headlines of one of those tabloids that used to grace every checkout stand in every  grocery store. I remember the days when Elvis sightings seemed to be the main headline each and every week, followed closely by alien abductions. But now I gravitate towards self-checkout (I’m faster than most of the cashiers!) so I don’t stay caught up on the “news.”

So, I decided to make a visit to the website of one of the more famous of the tabloids. With a certain royal wedding in the news, I picked a good week for it. The top headline screamed “Meghan Markle’s Secret First Husband Found.” (We all knew she’d been married before, right?)

Then we get a story about William Shatner hitting on his co-stars. Yawn. Move along.

Ah, another story inspired by the royal wedding. Decades of dirt! Bizarre lost sex secrets of the royal family! Let’s find out about what sex toys they use. Because sex sells.

 There’s about five more stories tied to the wedding, neatly interspersed with the sordid stories of other celebrities. To my disappointment, not a single Elvis or alien in site. So here’s my headline-“Elvis attends the royal wedding in disguise!”

Let’s try another one. “Meghan Markle’s first husband was an alien!” Or “Is Prince Harry a virgin?” How about “Did the ghost of Princess Diana walked Meghan Markle up the aisle?”

I could keep going- “Harry and Meghan’s marriage doomed” but I don’t want to have all the fun. Make up your own headline and share it in the comments. In the meantime, I’m going to check out and see what the other authors favorite tabloid headlines are.

May 21, 2018
Do you read the trashy tabloids while you wait in line at the grocery store? What headlines grab your attention and why?

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.

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Tell us about your top five junk foods or your top five healthy snacks.

I happen to like chocolate. A lot. It’s my “stress” food.
And I’m not terribly picky about what shape or form chocolate comes in. But I do love a good brownie.A good gooey but not raw brownie.

Unfortunately, I can’t make good brownies. I blame it on the oven cooking unevenly or not keeping the temperature consistent. Or maybe I don’t have a good recipe. And boxed mixes never have quite the right flavor. So when someone who is a better cook than I am offers me a brownie, I won’t turn it down. Heck, I won’t turn it down even if it’s no better than mine!

We’re not done with chocolate yet. Second on my list are chocolate chip cookies. I like mine a bit on the thicker side so the middle are soft. I’m good with throwing in nuts and chunks of chocolate, something a bit more tasty than normal chocolate chips. I’m even good with white chocolate in my cookies.

I could go on with the chocolate theme but it’s time for a little variety. How about ice cream? As a teenager, I worked for a short time in an independent ice cream shop. I  got to order the different flavors of ice cream from an small dairy and make all sorts of goodies With no corporate rules to follow, the customers could mix and match whatever flavors and toppings they wanted. Some of the creations were works of art. And of course, peanuts, whipped cream and a cherry on top were standard. But I got spoiled and it’s hard to find ice cream that matches the flavor from that dairy (that doesn’t exist anymore.)

Moving along and avoiding chocolate…jelly beans! Even the black ones! All year long, not just as Easter. I know they aren’t calorie free, but somehow they seem “healthier” than most other candies.

And we’re down to number five, and I can’t resist. More chocolate. Dark chocolate, specifically. give me a chunk of good, rich, dark chocolate. I won’t name any brands, but you can sure tell me your favorite brand of chocolate in the comments! Maybe there’s one out there I haven’t tried yet.

While I’m waiting, let’s check out the other authors top five.

Tell us about your top five junk foods or your top five healthy snacks.

Tell us about your top five junk foods or your top five healthy snacks.

I happen to like chocolate. A lot. It’s my “stress” food.
And I’m not terribly picky about what shape or form chocolate comes in. But I do love a good brownie.A good gooey but not raw brownie.

Unfortunately, I can’t make good brownies. I blame it on the oven cooking unevenly or not keeping the temperature consistent. Or maybe I don’t have a good recipe. And boxed mixes never have quite the right flavor. So when someone who is a better cook than I am offers me a brownie, I won’t turn it down. Heck, I won’t turn it down even if it’s no better than mine!

We’re not done with chocolate yet. Second on my list are chocolate chip cookies. I like mine a bit on the thicker side so the middle are soft. I’m good with throwing in nuts and chunks of chocolate, something a bit more tasty than normal chocolate chips. I’m even good with white chocolate in my cookies.

I could go on with the chocolate theme but it’s time for a little variety. How about ice cream? As a teenager, I worked for a short time in an independent ice cream shop. I  got to order the different flavors of ice cream from an small dairy and make all sorts of goodies With no corporate rules to follow, the customers could mix and match whatever flavors and toppings they wanted. Some of the creations were works of art. And of course, peanuts, whipped cream and a cherry on top were standard. But I got spoiled and it’s hard to find ice cream that matches the flavor from that dairy (that doesn’t exist anymore.)

Moving along and avoiding chocolate…jelly beans! Even the black ones! All year long, not just as Easter. I know they aren’t calorie free, but somehow they seem “healthier” than most other candies.

And we’re down to number five, and I can’t resist. More chocolate. Dark chocolate, specifically. give me a chunk of good, rich, dark chocolate. I won’t name any brands, but you can sure tell me your favorite brand of chocolate in the comments! Maybe there’s one out there I haven’t tried yet.

While I’m waiting, let’s check out the other authors top five.

Tell us about your top five junk foods or your top five healthy snacks.

Wolves’ Gambit is my new release. Although it’s the third book in the Free Wolves series, it can be read as a stand-alone. In this scene, Lori Grenville, the main character, is confronted by Hyrum, the pack enforcer.

     Lori didn’t expect to see a shadow of sadness cross his face. “There’s no place for me to go. My pack of birth doesn’t want me. They believe I’ll be a spy for the Jaeger’s.”

Lori hasn’t failed in a mission yet. This one may be the exception.