 March 20, 2023: Vernal Equinox Springtime! For gardeners and farmers, it's a busy time of year. It always has been. I've been busy preparing the manuscript for All Shook Up, so I thought to celebrate today with a simple post, an springtime excerpt from Tremors Through Time. “ ‘The sun hung midway between heaven and earth, the great loch silver beneath it, as Lachlann An Damh plowed his field.’ That sounds good, don’t you think? Must you do that?” Lachlann stopped in his tracks to glare at Rónán, who sat on a rock, sketching and watching him work. “Must I do what?” “It would be much more picturesque, and my drawing would look a lot better, if you would guide your oxen like any normal tuathanach. But no, you can’t be like other farmers. You have to pull the plow yourself, like one of your beasts.” “At the moment, I have more land than beasts,” grunted Lachlann, straining as he pulled the heavy, wooden plow over a deep rut. “One day, I’ll have more oxen. In the meantime, if you wish to draw a picture of my team, they’re in the next field with Fearghus.” “Unfortunately, you’re my subject, not the oxen,” Rónán murmured as he sketched. Lachlann sighed. He had too much on his mind for senseless banter. “I’m to get married,” he announced abruptly and continued down the field. “What? Wait!” He glanced back, satisfied to see his friend hastily unfolding his long, lean form from the boulder. “You’re getting married?” Rónán questioned as he joined him. “I am.” “To whom?” “To your cousin, the chief’s niece.” “The chief’s…do you mean Allasan?” Lachlann nodded. “Allasan.” He glanced at the bard. Rónán looked stunned. “But…she’s not your type! She’s half your size!” “I know.” “She’s not even friendly!” “You mean that she doesn’t like Norsemen. Believe me, I know.” “She doesn’t like anyone. Whose idea was this?” “Your chief’s. He and Allasan’s father approached my father.” “Are they forcing you?” Lachlann had to smile. Rónán sounded appalled. He shook his head. “No one’s forcing us.” “Then why are you marrying her?” “It will be another bond between our people.” Lachlann paused to adjust the plow. “And I’ve no one else in mind. Why offend the chief and upset my family?” “A bond between our people? What about the bond between you and your wife?” Rónán was almost shouting. “You worry too much, my friend.” “I would wish you happiness.” Happiness… We know that this good man and tuathanach extraordinaire does find happiness where he would never expect to. For more Medieval Monday, be sure to visit amazing medieval ladies Mary Morgan and Barbara Bettis. May springtime be a time of joy and renewal for all. 
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 Terry Newman writes the most extraordinary books! Heartquake was surprising enough. Lion shifters! I love shifter romance. But Rewrites of the Heart? Completely different and wow! Welcome, Terry! 1) What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? I read all sorts of books as a kid. But one series that stuck with me was The Happy Hollisters. It was so very 1960s-ish, but it stirred not only a love of reading, but a desire to write. My favorite all-time book I read as a child was A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle. I loved that story so much I read it to my daughter. 2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays? At the moment, I’m reading a lot of romantic comedies. But I discovered Becky Chambers. She’s a sci-fi author. I love her novella A Psalm for the Wild-Built. It’s a Monk and Robot book and why, yes, the two main characters are a monk and a robot. I had to then read the second book, A Prayer for the Crown-Shy. Equally as good. These books aren’t just science fiction. They hold marvelous and moving life lessons. 3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books? I’m developing this theory that writers (at least some of us) knew we wanted to be writers at a young age whether we actually had the courage to voice it or not. But the trick with writing, is that it doesn’t always translate into serious writing immediately. Sometimes, it’s delayed for decades. But that gnawing need to write stays with you and eventually you have to. I suppose the signs were pretty clear when I took an assignment in grade school to write a sentence for each spelling word and I created a complete story. Everyone else had 10 sentences. I had the entire back of my spelling word sheet covered. Oh, I love both your theory and that story! 4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of? A short story I wrote as a junior or senior in college. It filled a requirement for a history essay, actually. I had asked the professor instead of writing a regular essay, if I could submit a short story. It was an American social history class of the early twentieth century. I wrote about a woman who went to the 1920 Republican convention and tried to show the social trends of the day. I thought it was pretty darned good. I got an A minus on it. 5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspires you to write, to create? I’m not sure where my creativity comes from. It comes from everywhere and nowhere. I can get an idea for a story or even a scene from an off-hand remark or an incident. Writing is almost a need for me. It’s like I have a Storyteller App in my head, where information goes in and comes out as a tale. Writing is just so much a part of who am I. 6) What’s your writing space like? I have this large office with a great view and it…oh, wait. That’s the writing space of my dreams. Sorry. I live in a small efficiency apartment. My desk sits on one side of my small kitchen. But…I don’t use it. The chair isn’t comfortable, so I end up in my recliner with a TV tray butting up against one arm of it. My laptop and my coffee are always on the tray. And I have a large external monitor hooked up to the computer to lessen eye strain. And why yes, my monitor is larger than my television. It’s unconventional but it works for me. 7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset? I love to write in the morning. While I don’t write as soon as I get up, I do write as early as possible, depending on the day. I have more energy in the morning. Not only that, but the world seems to be filled with limitless possibilities in the morning. I love the idea of limitless possibilities. That is one more reason to love the morning! Beautiful. 8) Time to talk about your latest release (rubbing hands together). But first, how did you come up with the idea for the book? Are there any interesting tidbits you’d care to share with us? Years ago, I was in a community theater production of Jake’s Women, a Neil Simon play. I played the psychiatrist and was totally a figment of Jake’s imagination. So was every other actor in the play, except for his current wife. Jake was writer. I turned that idea around and created a writer whose characters come to life. At first, I wasn’t sure who would be able to see them, but finally decided it’d be more fun if they were fully formed and interacted with everyone. 9) Now let’s hear about Rewrites of the Heart. This is the story: JJ Spritely, historian-turned-romance-author, a talented writer who writes characters that jump off the page. Figuratively, of course. Until one day, she wakes up to find Alex Zurich and Blake Teesdale, the heroine and hero of her work in progress, sitting in her home office. And they’re on a mission: To help JJ writer her own love story with the man of her dreams. There’s only one problem with that. JJ has already met the man her characters think is the love of her life, Kennedy King Cooper. She believes he’s an arrogant jerk who, by the way, think romance novels are trash and those who write them, well, “bimbos.” His words. If that weren’t the only complication in JJ’s life, it seems her characters can’t find their way back to their own pages. They’re stuck in her world. And believe me, they try some inventive ways to return. 10) I comprehend that you’ve just recently published a book. I know what that takes. Still, I can’t help but ask – do you have anything waiting in the wings? My paranormal novella, The Wizard of her Heart, releases July 3. Our hero, Wyatt Ginn, meets our heroine, Sydney Thomas, when his car rear-ends hers in front of the post office. They both think they’ll never see each other again. She’s his new employee and on her first day of work, Wyatt is asked to cast a love spell over a bag of jelly beans. Sydney is just emerging from a bad marriage and bitter divorce. She doesn’t believe in romantic love or magic. So why does she keep thinking about him? It sounds like such a fun romance! 11) Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? Heartquake, my first novel with The Wild Rose Press, turns one year old this month. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. This story centers on Charlee Lightheart, a coffeeshop owner, and her boyfriend, Riley Brockton, a very wealthy businessman. Riley doesn’t know how to tell her he’s a lion shifter and, well, he believes she’s his lioness. At the request of a local anti-fracking group, Charlee runs for city council to oust the incumbent who is pro-fracking. But there’s someone who wants Charlee out of the race and keeps sending her threatening messages. A rogue reporter, with a history of hounding Riley, reveals the one secret that can destroy the anti-fracking movement and Riley and Charlee’s relationship. Happy book birthday to Heartquake! I so enjoyed it. Terry, thank you for sharing your time and talent with us. Congratulations again on Rewrites of the Heart! I wish you all the best! Thank you, Anastasia, for your hospitality. I enjoyed my visit.  JJ Spritely, romance author, writes characters that jump off the page. Figuratively, that is. She never expects them to make a literal leap off the page and smack dab into her world. But Alex Zurich and Blake Teesdale do just that. And they’re on a mission to help JJ write her own personal love story with a man she recently met, Kennedy King Cooper. A history professor, Cooper doesn’t see the value of romance novels and he has even less regard for those who write them. Until he meets a woman who haunts his thoughts. There’s only one small snag in Alex’s and Blake’s plan…okay…two rather large snags. JJ wants nothing to do with Cooper. The other snag? Alex and Blake aren’t able to return to the pages of their own book. Will JJ ever write her own love story? And will it be with Cooper? Will Alex and Blake return to the pages of their own book? Excerpt Just my luck, she thought, bedraggled ex-history professor meets hunk at bookstore. Hunk yawns, excuses himself in a panic, and breaks the sound barrier running in the opposite direction. Surprisingly, he didn’t run. Instead, he struck up a conversation. They chatted politely about history. It seemed like the obvious topic with World War II flashing at them from the shelves and the Civil Rights movement towering before them. Then he made a remark about the book signing. She listened, amused, and then she slowly became irritated as he rambled on about the absurdity of the “trash” of romance novels (his exact words, she recalled). “It’s refreshing to see a woman who appreciates the finer points of an education,” he told her, “and doesn’t stoop to reading such mindless garbage. Only a hopelessly mindless bimbo would read that stuff. And I couldn’t imagine what type of woman would actually lower herself to such depths to write that drivel.” Just at that moment, as fate would have it, a fan walked up to her. “Excuse me, Ms. Spritely, I hate to bother you, but the clerk said you wouldn’t mind. Would you please sign my copy of Love’s Revenge?” She smiled, retrieved all the details needed for the autograph, chatted for a few moments with her fan, and then turned back to the gentleman. “And you were saying?” The man’s jaw hung open wider than the entrance to a cavern. She, however, glowed. “Yep, that’s me,” she said. “And by the way, you know what this hopelessly mindless bimbo—those were your words, weren’t they?—did before she became a fulltime author?” She paused for the sole purpose of creating a dramatic moment. “This bimbo was a history professor.” She abruptly turned on her heel, smiling broadly as she headed for the in-store café. She bought her favorite coffee, a caramel mocha, grabbed an asiago pretzel as a treat, and went back to her seat at the book signing table. Oh, yeah. Life was good. Later, the man stopped by the booth to apologize. She smiled graciously. Her thoughts, though, were anything but gracious. What a waste of a sexy, attractive body. It’s stuck in the mindset of an arrogant Neanderthal. Just my luck, she thought. To meet a guy with some chemistry to him—and even similar interests—only to find he’s not just the proverbial frog, but the pompous ass as well. And that’s my modern fairy tale. “May I make this up to you?” he offered. He had asked for her phone number, but she declined to give it to him. Not to be brushed aside quite so easily, he handed her his business card. “Kennedy King Cooper, Professor of History, University of Northern Ohio.” She read it briefly. “If you should like to go for coffee some time and help me remove my foot from my mouth, I’d be grateful.” She held the card for a moment, almost tempted to take it. He did look attractive there in a boyish sort of way, part pouting, part pleading for a second chance on making a first impression. And, yes, she really did feel some type of attraction to him, pompous ass or not. But something told her not to take the card. She politely handed it back to him. “No, thank you. I don’t think we have much more to talk about.” Thankfully, an individual with a book to sign walked up, signaling the end of the conversation. “But he didn’t mean to be such a sexist, elitist egotist, JJ.” Alex pleaded the professor’s case for him. “Remember the absolute bozo Blake was when I first met him? And we overcame it.” Blake’s eyebrows scrunched together, his lower lip jutted out as he quietly muttered, “Bozo? I was a bozo?” Alex calmly shook her head and took his hand. “You were a loveable bozo, honey.” The characters’ banter shook her out of her reverie, and she discovered they were peering at her, apparently still expecting an answer. Purchase here.  About the Author Two things you should know about me: I have an offbeat sense of humor and characters are constantly talking to me, trying to get me to tell their stories. Other than that, I’m a normal person. I’ve spent most of my adult life writing in some fashion, from small-town reporter, to editor-in-chief and ghostwriter for a national natural health publishing firm. The last decade and a half I’ve worked as a freelance writer, penning ebooks that range from starting a doula services business to Native American herbs. I’ve finally took the plunge to fiction after pushing oh, so many doubts aside. My first novel with The Wild Rose Press, Heartquake, won a 4.5 crowned heart review with Ind’tale Magazine. All my books are set in fictional towns in northeast Ohio, where I grew up, and I write about things I love—like coffee. I have a daughter, a son-in-law, and a grandpuppy and live in North Lima, a real town in northeast Ohio with all my characters. Yes, it does get crowded.
I'm proud to showcase this cozy mystery that looks absolutely marvelous, Venus Rising by Tammy D. Walker.  Almost as soon as recent divorcee Amy Morrison begins her dream job as librarian aboard the world's most expensive luxury cruise liner, she nearly sinks it. She's tasked with hosting the debut of a painting celebrated but hidden for nearly sixty years. But the artist claims the painting isn't hers. And then, the artist goes missing. With the help of a retired academic couple lecturing aboard the ship, a dashing IT manager, and a housekeeping staff with a love of literature, Amy tries to solve the art fraud and kidnapping while rediscovering the adventurous side of herself. Excerpt Guests swirled around her. For the first time in her career, and maybe in her life, Amy Morrison stood in the middle of the sort of event she'd dreamed about hosting since starting her library science degree over two decades earlier. She spotted Brent at the doorway. Brent excused himself from the guests with whom he'd been speaking. "Ten minutes until the unveiling. We want Venus out the window for the official portrait. Memoir, Diane, Venus, and, well, Venus." "Will the photographer be able to do that? Get Venus with everything else?" Brent shook his head. "We can edit it in. It's the experience we want to create for everyone here. It'll be the story everyone takes away and tells their friends, their social media connections, the world. Trust me." "Oh, I do." "Everyone will be talking about how impressive the painting is alongside the rebirth of Venus, so to speak." Brent checked his watch, a sleek digital band that barely rose above his wrist. "I hesitate to ask,” Amy said in a low voice. “But isn’t Venus technically setting right now?” “Details.” Brent waved his hand. “It doesn’t matter which way the planet is going. It’s the story that’s important.” "But not the book?" "The book." Brent seemed to stop himself from saying something. Which is what Neil did too often. Amy pushed her pale coral thumbnail into her bare ring finger and told herself to stop it. No thinking about the divorce tonight. No thinking about Neil. "The book is what it is." "All part of the magic, right?" Which was Neil's favorite thing to say when things were going not as well as planned. She pushed her thumbnail into her ring finger again. https://www.tammydwalker.com/ From the Author  My main character, Amy Morrison, is a Texan who loves her tea. We have that in common.  I realized in writing Venus Rising that I'd need a better handle on British etiquette. So I consulted Debrett's Guide to Hosting and Entertaining, of course. Main character Amy had copies of this book and Debrett's Handbook at her library back in small town Dawville, TX.  Writing Venus Rising was my staycation in 2020. I reread a lot of travel books, including Rick Steve's London, and this from my first trip to London and Paris, How to Pack, by Lauren Cardone. It's from 1998, so I ejoyed reading about how to pack older media. I certainly brought cassette tapes and a personal player on my trip in 1999!  As part of the extended "staycation", I dreamed about cruises such as Cunard's Transatlantic Crossings. I also got into the spirit of things by baking some of Cunard's recipes, including their fantastic scones!  Meet Tammy
Tammy D. Walker writes cozy mysteries, poetry, and science fiction. She's the author of Venus Rising (The Wild Rose Press 2023). As T.D. Walker, she’s the author of the poetry collections Small Waiting Objects (CW Books 2019), Maps of a Hollowed World (Another New Calligraphy 2020), and a forthcoming collection of sonnets about radio communications. When she’s not writing, she’s probably reading, trying to find far-away stations on her shortwave radios, making poetry programs, or enjoying tea and scones with her family. Website Instagram Amazon Newsletter  I'm proud to welcome award-winning author Jennifer Ivy Walker today! I recently started reading The Lady of the Mirrored Lake. Talk about intense! Jennifer will tell us more about her latest release, but first let's learn a little more about her! 1) What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? I enjoyed stories about medieval knights and ladies, such as tales of King Arthur, Lancelot, and Robin Hood. 2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays? I love paranormal, medieval, and historical romance! 3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books? I discovered I had a knack for writing when I was eleven—the same year I started studying French. I realized I had a passion for the French language, history, literature, and culture as well. 4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of? A short story about my cocker spaniel in seventh grade. 5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspires you to write, to create? Growing up, I lived far from friends, so Nature was my companion, and being alone a lot fostered my imagination. Later on, I learned to sew, so in addition to writing, I also create couture (which I sell on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/bohemienneivy. As a French teacher, I used creative methods—such as puppets, Theater in the Classroom, music, dance, and literature to enhance my students’ learning. Beautiful shop -- seriously boho! What it must be like to be so creative ... 6) What’s your writing space like? I redecorated a spare bedroom, furnishing it with light aqua French antique furniture, huge pink roses, and lots of plants!  So lovely! Thank you for sharing your space with us. 7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset? I prefer to write during the day when it’s quiet and peaceful. I always work out plot developments or character backgrounds on my daily beach walks. Nature--especially the ocean-- inspires me so much! 8) Time to talk about The Lady of the Mirrored Lake, which I am reading at the moment (rubbing hands together)! But first, how did you come up with the idea for the series? Are there any interesting tidbits you’d care to share with us? When I earned my MA in French literature, I discovered the medieval legend of “Tristan et Yseult”. I have always loved Arthurian myth, and when I discovered that Tristan was a Knight of the Round Table and friend of Lancelot, it gave me the idea to do a paranormal fantasy adaptation of that medieval French legend, incorporating the French version of Arthurian myths. You've done it beautifully. 9) Now let’s talk about… A recent five-star review said this about my new release, The Lady of the Mirrored Lake (book 2 of The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven trilogy). “Decidedly more dark and decadent…the author deftly weaves some daunting new enemies into this magical tale, creating a rapturous fusion of myth, lore, and wizardry. 10) I comprehend that you’ve just recently published a book. I know what that takes. Still, I can’t help but ask -– do you have anything waiting in the wings? “The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight”—the conclusion of my trilogy—will be published on June 21st. “Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle” – a passionate romance between a fiery French princess descended from Vikings and the sullen, solitary knight who suffers an impossible love for her--will be published later this year. I just submitted the completed manuscript for “Flames of Flamenco”, an exotic romance set in Montmartre, the bohemian heart of Paris. I hope it lands another contract!  Finally, my current WIP (work-in-progress) -- “Amour in Avignon”—is a Cyrano de Bergerac kind of love story where a lonely American divorcée falls for a romantic French actor when she goes to the Festival of Theater in Avignon (a city in Provence, in the south of France). Wow! Bravo! Seriously, do you write in your sleep? 11) Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? I am THRILLED to share the news that my debut novel, “The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven”, won FIRST PLACE in the Paranormal Romance Guild 2022 Reviewer’s Choice Awards in the Historical Romance category. I am truly honored to have won this prestigious award! I happen to know that The Lady of the Mirrored Lake also recently won The Titan Gold Award! Congratulations, Ivy, for the honors as well as for your latest, award-winning release! Thank you for sharing your time and talent with us. Wishing you all the best!  Mirror, mirror on the lake. Reveal the path the queen will take. Hunted by the Black Widow Queen, Issylte--a healer with the verdant magic of the forest--must flee Avalon with the two finest knights in the Celtic realm, both wrongly accused of treason. The trio travels to Bretagne, where Issylte heals a critically injured wolf and obtains fiercely loyal, shapeshifting allies. In mystical Brocéliande, Issylte becomes a warrior priestess of the Tribe of Dana and otherworldly mate of the Blue Knight of Cornwall, discovering with Tristan a passion that transcends all bounds. When she becomes the Lady of the Mirrored Lake, sworn to defend the sacred waters of the Goddess, Issylte must undertake a perilous quest to discover what priceless object lies hidden in its murky depths. As a nascent evil emerges in a fetid cave, Issylte and Tristan must face a diabolical trio that threatens their lives, their love, and their kingdoms. Enchanted. Enflamed. Entwined. Can their passion and power prevail? Amazon B&N  Excerpt Their bodies sated—at least for now—they lay together, a tangle of limbs, reluctant to leave their enchanted realm. Tristan propped himself onto his elbow to unabashedly appreciate her nudity, worshipping her beauty with admiring eyes. He kissed her softly. “I love you, Issylte. With every breadth of my soul. With every beat of my heart. I am yours. Now, and forever.” His sea raven heart soared in the love light shining in her forest fairy eyes. “And I love you, Tristan. You are my warrior. My friend. My teacher. The only one who ever believed in me. Who promised to fight for me. Beside me.” Rising onto her knees, she took both of his hands in hers and kissed them. Her eyes glistening, she whispered, “You gave me weapons. Trained me to fight. To defend myself. And that…” she choked, gazing up at him, “is not only the greatest gift I have ever received. It also saved my life.” She kissed his hands again. “You are helping me to grow, Tristan. To believe in myself. To face the wicked queen who denies me my birthright. Who killed so many of those I loved. Whose evil threatens us all.” Lying down at his side, she laid her head over his pounding heart. He softly stroked her long blond hair. “You have made me strong, whole, and complete, Tristan. I am totally, utterly, undeniably yours. “ He held her for a few moments. His wild rose. Then, rising to his feet, Tristan took her hands, and pulled her close. He wrapped his arms around her waist, gazing intently into the deep green eyes of his Muse. “Toi et moi. So it shall be. You and I are entwined. Eternally.” Amazon B&N  About the Author Enthralled with legends of medieval knights and ladies, dark fairy tales and fantasies about Druids, wizards and magic, Jennifer Ivy Walker always dreamed of becoming a writer. She fell in love with French in junior high school, continuing her study of the language throughout college, eventually becoming a high school teacher and college professor of French. As a high school teacher, she took her students every year to the annual French competition, where they performed a play she had written, "Yseult la Belle et Tristan la Bête"--an imaginative blend of the medieval French legend of "Tristan et Yseult" and the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast", enhanced with fantasy elements of a Celtic fairy and a wicked witch. “The Lady of the Mirrored Lake”—book 2 of “The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven” trilogy--is a blend of her love for medieval legends, the romantic French language, and paranormal fantasy. It is a paranormal fantasy adaptation of the medieval legend of "Tristan et Yseult" (Tristan and Isolde), interwoven with Arthurian myth, dark fairy tales from the enchanted Forest of Brocéliande, and otherworldly elements such as Avalonian Elves, Druids, forest fairies and magic. Explore her realm of Medieval French Fantasy. She hopes her novels will enchant you.  It's an exciting week for my blog! Today, I'm proud to welcome cozy mystery writer Ana Diamond. Her latest cozy is Body Snatched, just published this past November. We'll get to the book -- we have a great excerpt -- but first let's get to know Ana a little better. 1) What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? I've always loved a good series. Growing up, The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel was one of my favorites. 2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays? Currently, I enjoy Psychological Thrillers and Cozies. I’m currently reading Frieda McFadden and Tamara Berry. 3) Around what age did you realize you like to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books? I started writing short stories when I was around 10 years old but writing a book didn't seem possible until about 5 years ago. 4) What's the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of? When I first started out I was learning the ropes by attending online workshops and entering contests to get feedback on my writing. I was super pleased to be a finalist and that made me keep going. 5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspired you to write, to create? I enjoy the process of moving the story forward and working through the conflicts. It's similar to painting a picture and watching it develop. Beautiful. 6) What's your writing space like? My writing space is by a window in my bedroom, nothing fancy. My cats stay close by keeping me company.  7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset? I like to write in the morning. It's when I have the most energy and inspiration. I don't have any rituals, but I find the longer I work on something the more likely it stays on my mind all day as I work through any kinks in the story. Thank you! I'm going to try that -- working longer as opposed to procrastinating when I run into kinks. 8) Time to talk about Body Snatched (rubbing hands together)! But first, how did you come up with the idea for the series? Are there any interesting tidbits you'd care to share with us? Usually, the first line of a story comes to me first and then I build around it. I thought the idea of finding a dead body in a funeral home that didn't belong there seemed kind of kooky in the same vein of Cozy Mysteries. I also have a dark sense of humor. I work in the medical field so medical terms and medical humor come natural to me. 9) Now for Body Snatched! Body Snatched is book 2 in the Body Conscious series. Here's a blurb: What’s worse than losing a body from a funeral home? Losing two. But mortician and amateur sleuth, Lily Reynolds has a hunch. The new visitor in town, Rick Drakon, may have charmed his way into her life but she’s not fooled by his smooth talking ways. Problem is, Rick is a long-time friend of Lily’s new husband, Detective James Rivers. While James is busy convincing her to look elsewhere, Lily embarks on a dangerous path toward uncovering the truth. Will this case come between the couple or will Lily find herself closer to evil than ever before? Now, that's suspense! Wow! 10) I comprehend that you just recently published a book. I know what that takes. Still, I can't help but ask -- do you have anything waiting in the wings? I am working on something new set in a New England bed and breakfast with a whole set of new characters and intrigue. I always like to add a little romance in my stories to spice things up. Joy dance! That sounds fabulous! You probably wouldn't be surprised to know that all my favorite cozies have at least a hint of romance! Thank you for sharing your time and talent with us, Ana! Once again, congratulations on Body Snatched!  Excerpt In a town full of secrets, who will come out alive? Black River reminded James of one thing: murder. Hidden in dense foliage, the river stretched out far beyond his view and also happened to be a perfect spot to dump a body. He had no doubt there had been many missing people over the years who wound up weighed down by rocks at the bottom of the river until their flesh disintegrated into nothing. His boss, Donald Abrams had a bad habit of telling him about their worst cases, probably to freak him out. The sicko with the garden of people floating upright like weeds was particularly gruesome. The chills he got from that one made the hairs on his neck stand up. However, since Manorview’s crime rate was low, James wasn’t entirely sure if the stories were folklore or not. “Congrats on your last case. I heard you’re a big boss detective now,” Rick said as he reeled in his empty line. James impaled a worm on his hook and swung the line out into the water. “Thanks. I wouldn’t say big boss though. More like maybe I’ll get to keep my job.” “Have you ever caught anything here?” Rick asked. “No, but I hear there’s trout.” And bodies. Purchase here. About the Author When Ana Diamond isn't writing about tough gals finding love in unexpected places, she’s at work by day in the medical field. She writes romantic cozy mystery novels with feisty strong women and alluring men who can’t resist them. Her books are fast paced, entertaining and heartfelt all at once. Ana is a 2020 Tara Contest Finalist for Body Conscious and 2015 Melody of Love contest finalist. She lives in New York with her husband, two children and two needy but wildly entertaining kitty cats. Twitter Facebook TikTok Instagram https://anadiamondauthor.com/   Happy Medieval Monday! I'm delighted to celebrate today with Virginie Marconato, multi-published author of medieval romance. Virginie's writing is captivating, throbbing with passion and emotion as it immerses readers in another time and place. We'll talk about her latest book Shadows in the Mist, which just launched in February, but first let's get to know Virginie a little better. Welcome, Virginie! 1) What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? Oh, I’ve always loved reading! The first books I remember rereading over and over again are Fantastic Mr Fox and White Fang, which everyone will know, and Pimprenelle and the Whimsical Leek, which no one will. The story of a leek with the powers to transform itself into anything. Very random but aged 7 or 8, I loved it. And of course the series of the Six Compagnons, a band of friends very much in the style of The Famous Five, with their own dog, Kafi. I wore them thin, all 20 of them. Of course, I read all this in French. I’m wondering now what the first whole book I read in English might be… Maybe Animal Farm, or 1984. 2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays? No surprises there, romance! In all sorts of subgenre and level of spice, with the exception of clean. I feel cheated if I don’t get the natural conclusion of a love story. I also love Jasper Fforde, Mark Gatiss, Karen Maitland. Or I read a lot of nonfiction about the Middle Ages for research and pleasure. 3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books? Hum… Aged 11 at school we started to do writing essays and I really loved that. I always had top marks, actually. The idea that I could start writing books popped into my head when I was about 28. “Why couldn’t I write something? Other people do… Why not me?” I thought out of nowhere. I tried poetry, contemporary romance but the results were not conclusive. And then one day (whilst swimming in my pool) I realised where I was going wrong. I was not writing about what I loved most! As soon as I started to write a story set in the midst of the Hundred Years War I knew I had found my path. It’s like falling in love, I think. When you meet the right person it clicks, even if you don’t know exactly what it is about them that draws you to them. This is such a beautiful explanation. 4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of? One of those writing essays I just told you about probably. We had to imagine what came next in an Arsène Lupin scene. The teacher was so impressed with my work she read it out loud to the class. I could have cringed, but I was so chuffed! Other than that my first historical romance scene where the hero feeds the heroine a juicy pear in an orchard. It was the first time I wrote something I thought was representative of my own style, and I enjoyed myself thoroughly. 5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspires you to write, to create? No idea. I only know that I have all these ideas floating around. It’s not a case of finding inspiration for me, rather harnessing and organising the chaos and deciding what has potential or not. Of course visiting ruined castles helps but it could be anything. Listening to a historical documentary, looking out over a beautiful landscape, listening to a piece of music, seeing an animal, anything can trigger an idea. Then generally I take a long walk to let it develop in my head. I suppose it’s a bit like picking a flower bud and then waiting for the petals to unfurl. Sometimes it takes longer than you would like but you have to be patient. It will open eventually.  Rhuddlan Castle, Wales 6) What’s your writing space like? I don’t have one. I write anywhere and everywhere. At home it’s usually on the sofa but it could be at night in my bed, while I am queuing at the market, on public transport… I always have a notebook and pen in my bag with me so I can jot down ideas or even write whole scenes. Then I type it into my computer, padding it out as I go. Sometimes I find it hard to get going and cannot write more than a few lines at a time, sometimes the words come pouring out for hours on end, it really depends. But once I start, I get into my bubble and I am no longer on a plane or in the kitchen but in a castle in the fifteenth century or galloping through the forest with brigands in hot pursuit. So the place doesn’t matter. As long as I’m comfortable physically. 7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset? No favourite time, but definitely when they children aren’t around easiest. I always do other things like crochet at the same times, check on the quiche in the oven, get the washing out. I time these activities for when I can’t get a sentence right. By the time I come back to the computer, the knot had entangled itself. For the mindset, it’s more a case of shaking myself out of my story. I will be shopping, chopping herbs, washing my hair and all the while thinking of my WIPs. 8) Time to talk about Shadows in the Mist (rubbing hands together)! But first, how did you come up with the idea for the series? Are there any interesting tidbits you’d care to share with us? This particular one came after I read in one of my nonfiction books that widows whose husbands had fought on the wrong side of the war would have their allowances taken away from them. I could not stop thinking of the poor women innocent of any wrongdoing. I decided to give at least one of them, my heroine, Rose, a way out and a happy ending. Her name, along with her hero Philip, comes from the couple in Sleeping Beauty, which my daughter was watching at the time, my favourite Disney. Philip and Aurora, who the fairies call Rose in the forest. That's fascinating. Sweet, too, that your characters' names come from Sleeping Beauty and that you have a favorite Disney movie. :) 9) I comprehend that you’ve just recently published a book. Still, I can’t help but ask – do you have anything waiting in the wings? Most definitely! My first Scottish romance Dark Highlander is coming out in June. I have a real soft spot for my hero Cormac, whom I enjoyed very much to write – and mentally picture! I have other stories in the editing stages. Two should be out this year, I think. I am so looking forward to a Scottish romance from you! 11) Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? Oddly enough, I cannot write in my native language - French. I’ve tried, because my friends and family, who don’t read a word of English, pester me to, but I can’t! It sounds contrived, unnatural, insipid. I think I would even hate to read a translation of my books in French. Now, in Italian I would love it! This, I find very surprising! But I'm not going to complain. I'm glad you write in English! :) Thank you for sharing Medieval Monday with us today, Virginie. Congratulations on your latest release!  The woman Philip finds in his bed one night is not the one he thought would be there for a playful romp, a night’s entertainment. That’s all he wants to provide to the women who try to snare him as a husband. Yet he is more honorable than his stepbrother, the person this woman awaits. A penniless widow, Rose has accepted a humiliating marriage offer in the hope of being reunited with her son, taken from her by his grandfather. But the fiery lover who comes to her in the dark and finds her in his bed is not the future husband she was expecting... How can she overcome this setback in her plans and still keep her dignity and reputation? Amazon Goodreads  Excerpt from Shadows in the Mist “I came to give you this.” With those words he handed her a piece of paper. With its big waxed seal, it looked official, as official and impressive as Philip himself. His tunic of dark velvet made him appear darker himself, and he was wearing a hat adorned with a brooch. She had never seen him in such magnificent apparel. He was dressed in a manner more suited to a visit to court than to an impoverished widow in the country. “What is it?” she asked, looking at the paper. She could not quite bring herself to touch it. “It is an ordinance from King Edward.” There was a pause. “Your pension has been restored to you. You do not need to wait for charity from Baron Maltravers or anyone else. From this day hence, you will be, if not exactly a rich woman, at least comfortable enough to get your son back.” Rose’s mouth opened in shock. Get her son back? She had hoped to hear these exact words so many times, but now that she had…they didn’t seem real. “Why… The king…” She was speechless. “Why would he do this for me? I never petitioned him. I do not know him.” “No, but I do. I asked for an audience with him. That is why I left so abruptly the morning you left Wicklow Castle, something I did not even apologize for,” Philip said. He gritted his teeth. How had he not thought she would be hurt by his apparent desertion? He’d had a good reason for leaving her at such an inopportune moment, but of course Rose had not known that. She would have thought him as callous as Gilbert, sending her away without so much as a goodbye. “By chance I had heard the day before that he was on progress in a nearby town,” he explained. “The opportunity was too good to miss, and I had to leave without delay. I did not tell you at the time because I did not want to raise your hopes too much in case I could not gain access to him. But I did, and here is the result.” “You went to the king to petition on my behalf and ask for my pension to be restored?” Rose wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly. But Philip nodded as if this was the most natural thing in the world. “I fought for him in various battles and was made a lord for my services. He was kind enough to remember me and grant me this small favor. Our sovereign is a generous and forgiving man. I argued that a widow could not be made accountable for her husband’s unfortunate allegiances and promised that you would not use your influence to foment rebellion against him. I trust you not to make a fool out of me now and raise an army to bring him down.” His lips quivered. They both knew that she had no influence and would never pose any threat to the king, but he enjoyed teasing her. She had a ready sense of humor and was not easily prone to offense. It was one of the things that had drawn him to her and what he had missed the most. Rose understood Philip was teasing her, as was his wont, but she could not smile back. She was too dumbstruck, too touched that he would have taken the trouble to risk angering the king, all for her. “Why would you do this for me?” The brown eyes glittered. “Apart from an innate sense of justice, you mean? What happened to you is appalling. I do not see that an innocent woman should be punished and pay all her life for her husband’s decisions in such an extreme fashion, when we all know that more often than not she has no input in them and may not agree with them.” “Yes, apart from that,” Rose whispered. Though she could readily believe that Philip would be moved by such a situation, she had a feeling that he had meant to help because of who she was, not for a mere question of principle. His next words confirmed it. “I think you will agree that I owed it to you. I was the one who, albeit unwittingly, denied you the solution you had found to your predicament. I still do not agree that you should have married Gilbert, so I cannot be too sorry about being the cause of his change of heart, but I can feel responsible for the consequences.” He pursed his lips like a man who had eaten an unripe fruit by accident and could not get the tart taste out of his mouth. “I could not in all conscience have left it at that, after hearing your story. This is for little Edward as much as for you.” Amazon. Goodreads  About the Author I think I became a writer the day I decided to write a (very bad, shamefully close to the real story) version of White Fang when aged nine or ten! As for the Middle Ages I fell in love with it at school during a history lesson, then Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood put its final seal on it all. A girl of twelve then, I never recovered! virginiemarconato.com FB Coming soon, The Dark Highlander!  For more Medieval Monday, be sure to visit medieval ladies Mary Morgan and Barbara Bettis!
 I'm thrilled to welcome Lynn Griffin. She gives wonderful support and encouragement to fellow authors and I've been enjoying her latest book, The Twenty-One Year Contract. We will definitely get to the book, but first let's learn more about author. Welcome, Lynn! 1) What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? Enid Blyton was one of my favourites. She was not only a prolific writer, she covered all ages and did wonderful series, all of which served me well until I hit around 11. I also loved Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. I think it’s quite possibly why I love writing children’s books in a similar vein. Think Alice walking through Lemony Snicket. As you can see, I like dark. 2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays? Oh, gosh. I will literally read anything, though I’m so keen on horror if there’s unnecessary tons of blood and guts. Sorry you guys that write in this genre, and to those who read it. I know it’s a popular genre and there are really great horror authors out there. To give you a flavour of my most recent reads: Ishiguro, Richard Osmond and on my bedside table at the moment Rachel Brimble, if you check any of these out you can see how diverse they are and who I have reviewed on Goodreads, Bookbub, Ben Shepard. For me, it’s all about getting inside the story, losing myself and learning. 3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books? I can’t put my finger on exactly when I knew I wanted to write books, but it’s been there since I was a child. 4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of? I wrote a children’s story. It’s still on the backburner waiting for me to submit, though I need to work out the best place for it. I keep thinking Tim Burton. All my children’s books, much like my adult books, a little dark and with a meaning. Think Alice in Wonderland meets Lemony Snicket. At the moment though, my debut – Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox is my proudest achievement. Why? Because I was brave enough to submit it, but only because a friend said: “Do it now before you pop your clogs mate.” She was right, life is too short. Bravo! 5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspires you to write, to create? My imagination is rife with wild and wonderful things. Writing allows me to express all things beautiful, yet all things honest in life. My stories are inspired by the wealth of people I have met, by those who have survived through courage and determination, and who area real life heroes. 6) What’s your writing space like? Oh my goodness. I have a lovely converted bedroom specifically set up for the job. Trouble is I share it with my husband, so not always a good space, because I chat to my imaginary friends, and he either thinks I’m going bonkers or I’m talking to him! Since I retired, I find I can write anywhere. In the garden, on the sofa, or in a café. It has become a moveable feast. That all sounds wonderful. 7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset? I always wrote around the paid job. Up at silly o’clock, then dash out to work. Toast in one hand and fixing my hair with the other because I forgot the time. 8) Time to talk about your latest book (rubbing hands together)! But first, how did you come up with the idea for the series? Are there any interesting tidbits you’d care to share with us? Adoption. Life. Humour. Survival. Crime. Mystery. Coincidence. All these elements are ensconced in my novels. They share the reality of life, the drama of survival and inspirational courage. Thinking about coincidence. How many of us have walked down a road in a different town, city, or in another part of the world and bumped into someone you haven’t seen for years. My stories are also filled with coincidence as this is life. Well certainly this has been life for me. The Twenty-One-Year Contract is the sequel (also standalone) to Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox. 9) Now let’s hear about The Twenty-One Year Contract. Only a simple shoebox, but full of secrets... Kathleen is 14, wild, fun, and talented. When her adoptive family died in tragic circumstances she is devastated and alone. Uncle Jack is wonderful, but he lives in America, and works across the world. He can’t be father to her. Kathleen takes a chance. She becomes Kate and runs away to London with the hope of fulfilling her dream to become a fashion designer. Here she meets and makes friends with Harriet (in Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox). Who would have guessed her new friend would hold life changing secrets hidden in a shoebox. All I can say, from what I've read so far, is that it's a truly beautiful book. 10) I comprehend that you’ve just recently published a book. Still, I can’t help but ask – do you have anything waiting in the wings? Yes, The Twenty-One- Year Contract was released July 2022, but I’ve got a couple of projects on the go. I’m in the throes of editing a contemporary romance who is third generation of Harriet/Kate’s story. I also have an idea bubbling around for the coming years of Harriet and Kate – so from the early 60s. We all know London was a hive of sex, drugs and rock and roll, but crime and fashion were reaching dizzy heights of fame and infamy. Enough said. 11)Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? I love to help budding writers. I know it’s a lonely occupation, and as a result I have teamed up with our local library and offered a free writing workshop and am following it up with kickstarting critiquing groups. These were far and few between when I started looking for help, so I started my own – one has been running for fifteen years and another around four. I do a random blog so check that out – it hosts wonderful authors and is interspersed with information for writers. www.wifeinthewest.com Most recently I hosted my editor Nan Swanson – in two parts, first about her background and the second that will be a very useful tool for writers who are starting out. This all goes so well with how I think of you -- kind, generous, genuine. Thank you for sharing your time with us today, Lynn. Wishing you all the best! Thank you so much for hosting me Anastasia, it’s been an absolute pleasure. And now for an excerpt from The Twenty-One Year Contract!  Only a simple shoebox, but full of secrets… Kathleen Gray—talented, a little wild, at times rebellious, but always popular—has a fun, easy life in rural Somerset, with a doting family. Suddenly, they are gone, everything is changed, and she has only Uncle Jack. Try as he might, he cannot be father and mother to her—he has a business to run and his own life to manage. Kathleen takes a chance and becomes Kate Westfield, fending for herself in London, with a new life built on her hopes and dreams and new friends. She could hardly have imagined that one of those friends has a shoebox full of answers. Excerpt ‘After a glass of water, Jack made himself a cup of tea and returned to the job in hand. This was going to be much harder than he could ever have imagined. Working deep through the night, Jack methodically sifted through volumes of paperwork until light inched its way through the curtain. Though he felt thoroughly ready for bed, he continued searching, his aim to find at least a smidgen of information about his niece. Randomly tidying up as he went, Jack noticed an encyclopaedia oddly extended over one of the top shelves. He tried pushing it back into place. It was jammed. It looked awkward. Pulling it out to check the depth of the book, he found a box file hidden behind. Upon the side panel was one word, capitalized in thick bold lettering: KATHLEEN As the hazy sunlight grew, puzzled, Jack pulled the curtains to lend natural light, took the file off the shelf, sat back in Henry’s chair, and looked inside…’ Purchase here.  About the Author L.B Griffin loves to write stories to touch people’s hearts. She draws upon social issues that are often hidden in deep drawers but readers can identify with. Her women don’t see themselves as courageous, strong, or survivors, but they certainly are. Her debut, Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox has received superb five star reviews, amongst them Whispering stories and VINE VOICE reader/blogger Michelle Ryles, singing high praise: Incredibly well-written, Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox is a magnificent debut. It’s a poignant, disturbing, and a heart-warming page-turner that has left me chomping at the bit to continue Harriet’s story. The sequel, also a standalone – The Twenty-One Year Contract, is already receiving famtastic five star reviews such as VINE VOICE: This book will have you laughing, crying, and cheering. L.B. Griffin continues to turn silent stories into courage, hope, and survival. Be warned, she is a self-confessed chocolate-raisin and strawberry addict! www.instagram.com/lynngriffinauthoruk www.Facebook.com/lynngriffinauthor/ www.twitter.com/lbgriffinauthor www.wifeinthewest.com mybook.to/twentyone More from author Lynn Griffin...  1950s London and everybody has a secret...
When Harriet Laws loses her grandmother and her job, her happy life in London seems over. Alone, grief-stricken and penniless, she thinks wildly of ending it all. Fate steps in as Tom Fletcher saves her, gives her hope, and guides her to new employment. He takes her to dinner, and she finds him attractive. He's older, but she doesn't mind. Does he? Tom, a quiet, hardworking man, is unsure of Harriet's feelings, but he's also very busy building his business interests. So it's no wonder a suave, sophisticated fellow walks off with Harriet right under Tom's nose. What follows, no one could have predicted, as Harriet not only loses contact with all her friends but must again fight for her very life...will she ever see Tom again? Available at Amazon.  Today I'm pleased to welcome author Mary Ann Jacobs, whose debut cozy mystery recently launched. Congratulations, Mary Ann! Thank you for sharing your time with us. 1) What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? I read all the series books, Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames Student Nurse, Charlotte's Web, The Babysitters’ Club. Charlotte’s Web was always my favorite and still is. Charlotte's Web -- such a beautiful story. 2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays? I enjoy spy novels and mysteries. 3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books? After getting a degree in English, I realized that I actually enjoyed writing papers. After that, I had many causes and wrote essays about whatever cause I was passionate about. While teaching grade school, I discovered the poetry of Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutski and realized I loved poetry. Thus began my poetry writing career. I didn’t know I wanted to write books until Covid hit, and I decided to try writing a book as my Writing Therapy to keep from going crazy because of the isolation. 4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of? I always felt proud of the essays I wrote, especially when some of them were published. I also wrote my first children’s book, but looking back on it, it was a disaster. 5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspires you to write, to create? In fiction, characters just pop into my mind, and I create scenes for them. In poetry, I like to observe and create poems from my observations. I think it's wonderful that you write poetry. Do you know, I "Invented" a hashtag: #theworldneedsmorepoetry? 6) What’s your writing space like? A very cluttered desk with numerous projects in different piles – not the model workplace for anyone. 7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset? I grab snatches of time in my busy schedule to write. 8) Time to talk about your new book, Don't Mess with Me (rubbing hands together). How did you come up with the idea for the series? Are there any interesting tidbits you’d care to share with us? After immersing myself in cozy mysteries to relieve stress during Covid, I decided to try my hand at a cozy mystery. I love strong women protagonists, so I created a widow, modeled after many widows I know who have carried on after the death of a spouse. For Sadie, I modeled her after my Lebanese aunts who were very strong women. Once I had my two strong women, it was time to create the Super Sleuths and the ensemble of characters who would populate this group. Tidbits – I am a city girl. Visiting my daughter in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, I was introduced to festivals and small-town living. This became my setting. It all sounds wonderful! 9) Now let’s hear about the book. The recipes in the book came from my grandmother who taught my mother how to make Lebanese food. My mom was English and Austrian so before she could marry my Lebanese father, she stayed for a week with his mother and learned to cook the ethnic food. Interestingly, she became one of the best cooks in the family. Mmm. I love this! I'm half-Lebanese, mom's side, and my husband is from Lebanon. Fabulous cuisine -- good for body and soul! 10) I comprehend that you’ve just recently published a book. Still, I can’t help but ask – do you have anything waiting in the wings? Oh yes. I have written a collection of modern fables for children, a book on how to write poetry with sample poems and instructions on how to create poems. I just got notice that two more of my poems will be published in an anthology in May. I have several picture books I’m marketing, and last, but not least, if the Berkshire Mystery Series is to carry on, I need to finish book two. I am about a third of the way through. You are busy! 11) Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? I just need a week alone in a cabin somewhere to finish all I have started. It’s hard to find time to write and even harder to find time to market what I have written. Thank you again for joining us today, Mary Ann. Congratulations again on your new release! Wishing you all the best! Thank you.  Sheriff Houtman, who left Boston to have a more peaceful career, finds himself faced with two murders and a kidnapping. He is challenged by a band of amateur sleuths who doubt his competence. Will his conclusions hold, or will he have to admit defeat? Unfortunately, Sheriff Houtman’s judgement is impaired because of his infatuation with Sadie, and his immediate suspicion of a homeless teen that Robin and Sadie befriended. Robin George narrates the story. She is a widow with a young son who moves to the Berkshires after her beloved husband died. Her bookstore, Bookworms, and Sweet Indulgences, her best friend Sadie’s restaurant, become the hubs for Robin’s amateur detective group where they plan how to solve the local crimes and exonerate Billy, the Sheriff’s main suspect. Will they prove the Sheriff wrong?  Excerpt from Don't Mess With Me by Mary Ann Jacobs The Sheriff, losing his normally calm demeanor, confronted Fergusson, “Are you aware that someone was murdered last night? Not only are we investigating a murder, but we also are looking for a vandal and a robber. I suppose you think a little noise is more important than all that. You are a self-centered so and so,” sputtered the Sheriff. Shaking, Sheriff Houtman turned around and said to the rest of us, “I’ll get back to all you later. One crime at a time. I better get back to the station and check out this rumor of arson. Let’s hope my deputy has turned up some evidence. Houtman then rushed for the exit. I thought, “Wow, he really went off on Fergusson. I wonder why. But the Sheriff is a coward to just leave without even a comment about Billy’s interrogation. I’m worried that Houtman has already tried and convicted Billy in his own snap-judgement mind.” Fergusson shouted at Sheriff Houtman’s fleeing figure. Fuming, Fergusson left the shop, banging the door behind him. Billy came back with his head down and his hands stuffed in his pockets. Gone was his cocky attitude. Whatever Houtman said to him seemed to have broken his spirit. “I’m really sorry, Ms. George, that I crashed through your door and made such a commotion,” said a subdued Billy. Worried, Sadie went to Billy, and they found a secluded corner of the store and sat and talked. At least he seemed to be open to Sadie’s questioning.  To Contact Mary Ann: Website FB Twitter Amazon maryalexanderjacobs@gmail.com maryannjacobsauthor@gmail.com   Happy Medieval Monday! Since March is Womens' History Month and today is our granddaughter's saint's day, I thought it the perfect time to consider Nicolette Boellet, otherwise known as Saint Colette, and the life of medieval nuns. The Church played a gigantic role in medieval history. It's no surprise that books and movies set in the era often feature clergy of some sort. I've seen nuns portrayed as small-minded, harsh, cruel individuals and also as brave, intelligent, benevolent ones. Truth? Surely they were as varied as people in any station of life in any era. During my studies, it occurred to me that in many ways, medieval clergy had a more stable life than almost anyone -- up to and including royalty. Certainly, they had more comfortable lives than peasants. For one thing, they were pretty much guaranteed a roof over their heads and nourishing (if simple) food to eat. Women as well as men were educated. Nuns were respected, too, their social status just below that of the nobility. Nevertheless, the nuns' lives were often hard and austere. They spent a lot of time in prayer, including but not restricted to praying "the hours", which meant even rising from bed in the middle of the night to pray. Many orders demanded strict asceticism, calling for abstinence and fasting as well as hard work and prayer. What kind of work did they do? Convents, like monasteries, were self-sufficient communities. They did everything for themselves. They had to provide their own food and clothing. There were gardens to tend, every sort of household chore to take care of, cooking, wine-making (not trusting their water source) -- no pizza deliveries or washing machines. They sewed, too, of course, and some embroidered. They also ministered to the poor and the sick, taught, and gave sanctuary when needed. And like any community, there was surely dissension. Not everyone would have agreed or gotten along all the time. Not all nuns were kind and generous. Despite a certain stability, their lives weren't easy. Yet they managed to do a lot of good and were important to medieval society. While many nuns came from noble families, bearing rich endowments, it was certainly not the case for all. Women from all stations of life became nuns. Born in Corbie, France in 1381, Nicolette Boellet was not wealthy or privileged. She grew up in the shadow of Corbie Abbey where her father worked as a carpenter.  Her parents were both in their sixties when she was born. By the time she was 17, she was an orphan. She chose to embrace religious life. From her humble beginnings, she became a force within the church. As a nun and a mighty medieval woman, she reformed the Poor Clares. Despite much opposition, she returned the order to a lifestyle of strict poverty and devotion. She went on to found eighteen monasteries across Europe, even creating her own order, the Colettine Poor Clares, which still exists today. Saint Colette wrote a lot, too, including a biography of Saint Clare. She is remembered for being especially mindful and caring towards pregnant women and children. The medieval era lasted for approximately 1,000 years. Nicolette Boellet -- Saint Colette -- was just one of countless remarkable women through the ages to make positive differences in their worlds. But I like to imagine that during her time in history, when the church -- the cornerstone of medieval society -- was falling apart and women and children often had little or no rights at all, she forged ahead, holding everyone to a higher standard, caring for the weak and defenseless. And still, she took time to write. :) Happy Feast Day, darling Colette! For more Medieval Monday, be sure to visit awesome medieval ladies Mary Morgan and Barbara Bettis! Wishing you a beautiful week ahead!  Happy Medieval Monday! This past weekend was our anniversary. My sweetheart and I took a short holiday -- a long weekend -- to celebrate, so I don't have much in the way of a post today. But I was inspired to look up some medieval wedding images. Priest, no priest. Handfasting. A simple exchange of vows, no witness required. A royal procession. A good number of the marriages were arranged. During the long, medieval era (approx. 500 - 1500), wedding traditions varied widely. They also changed in the course of 1000 years. None of that is surprising, right? Even now, in our modern times, no two weddings are alike, which is as it should be. My own wedding was 41 years and one day ago. I was 19 and my groom, 25 -- so young and in love. It was a formal occasion, honestly over our heads. I hardly remember a thing. Isn't that crazy? I don't mind, though. It was a happy, exciting day that I think of as our family's birthday. I could not be more grateful. Most of the medieval paintings and engravings depict royal weddings or, at least, those of the nobility. They were more political alliances than anything else. But I like to think that at least for some of the couples, it was a happy, exciting day. Just like ours was. :) I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. For more Medieval Monday, be sure to visit authors Barbara Bettis and Mary Morgan. Wishing you a magical week ahead! |
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