Musings from a Writer’s Brain–Thanksgiving Memories from Emma Lane

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cozy mystery, Emma Lane, essay, Murder at the Lookout, Musings from a Writer's Brain, Thanksgiving

THANKSGIVING MEMORIES

from Emma Lane

Thanksgiving is family, food, and thankfulness. It’s when you have this homing urge to join your people over a huge roasted turkey. When you were ten you punched your cousin in the nose for some remark he made. When you were eighteen, you were bored and wishing to be somewhere else, but mom made you stay. When you were twenty-eight, you were setting up the children’s table. And so it goes right down to Grandpa who at 90 announced he didn’t need to watch his cholesterol any more and reached for the butter dish. (I loved it when he did that.)

Our turkey is carved in the kitchen, makes it easier for serving. But when the grandchildren were young, they always expected that rooster to make an appearance at Thanksgiving. It’s a tradition as such. They are grown-ups now, but they still search the china cabinet for the collection of salt ‘n pepper shakers, each person has his/her favorite set. Our dining room table is custom made wide at the bottom to seat two people comfortably. As a result, I have no matching pad. Straw oversized placemats do an admirable job of protecting the wood surface from the heated dishes. I use a table cloth, but still enjoy the colorful cloth placemats to echo the vibrant Fall colors. With the addition of fruit cups, water glasses, and matching candles, the table arrangement is complete, waiting only for the train of hot dishes and the blessing before the feast is begun.

Turkey for everyone! White for the kids and dark meat for my hubby and me. They have always been convenient preferences. We reserve baked ham for Christmas dinner. Lima beans (butter beans) for my son, green bean casserole for my daughter. Each person has a favorite. I love yellow squash while my hubby adores sweet potato soufflé. My daughter makes all the pies, usually pumpkin and apple. The grands like the fruit cups that are sometimes surrounded by red Jell-O and sometimes by whipped cream. Dressing?? We make a raison (Crasins substitute) and walnut type topped by a couple of baked chicken parts. The recipe changes almost every time. There is a fresh veggie plate with tomatoes, celery, carrots, and sliced zucchini for nibbling. Other dishes may be added each year.

Once I had an idea to bake a mid-sized (huge) Hubbard squash and stuff it with a mixture of squash, onion with a touch of maple syrup topped with scrambled southern style sausage. It was so tasty, but a bear to get to the table. I dropped it from the menu. What memories does your family love each Thanksgiving get together?

Happy Thankful Day to you and yours from my home to yours.

Emma

How about a glimpse into my new Cozy Mystery, MURDER AT THE LOOKOUT while you digest your feast?

When is it not fun to be a blond?

What happens when a blond beauty hits town like a tornado stirring up memories and causing turmoil? Detective Kevin Fowler and his wife, the former Beverly Hampton, owner of the local newspaper, are settling into blissful married life. Although Beverly is sanguine over the demand on Kevin’s time by the good people of Hubbard, she is more than dubious when his duties include the escort of a drop-dead gorgeous female from his past.

There is some concern over the persistent vandalism of residential mailboxes, but an infamous arsonist has decided peaceful but dull Hubbard would make a great place from which to operate. He brazenly locates down the block from the detective and his wife.

What bait and tackle shop in the village has a dual purpose? Kevin ponders why two goons have invaded town shooting at and attempting to kidnap and murder three women. A state patrolman, aptly nick named Rooster, teases Fowler at the riotous scene of a traffic accident where the press, not the police, wins the day.

Another mystery and adventure with a satisfying ending unfolds in peaceful Hubbard, New York, small-town Americana, where Detective Kevin Fowler keeps an ever-vigilant watch.

AMAZON BUY LINK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emma Lane is a gifted author who writes cozy mysteries as Janis Lane, Regency as Emma Lane, and spice as Sunny Lane.

She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at Herbtique and Plant Nursery, the nursery she and her son own.

Look for information about writing and plants on Emma’s new website. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma’s face.

Stay connected to Emma on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check out the things that make Emma smile on Pinterest.

 

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A Writer’s Garden–Theme Gardens by Emma Lane

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A Writer's Garden, cozy mystery, Emma Lane, flowers, Theme Gardens, Whispers of Danger and Love

from Emma Lane

Theme gardens can be fun for adventurous gardeners who want to shake things up.

Photo by Emma Gossett on Unsplash

Colorful annuals. Their raison d’etra, reason for living, is to bloom and make seeds. To keep them full of their bright and beautiful blossoms frequent culling of the old blooms is the secret. Paying attention to color combinations will enhance bedding petunias such as blue and yellow; red, white and blue; primary colors-red, yellow and blue; all pastels.

 

Perennials are friends forever. The trick here is to plant staggered bloomers. Daffodils and tulips for spring give way to lupine and peonies in April and May. June is for roses (and brides) and July owns lilies. Hibiscus and other members of the family (Rose of Sharon) for late summer, and we all appreciate summer’s wind up with splashes of intensely colored mums and sunflowers. There are many beautiful perennials to be planted in between. Careful attention to foliage varieties is also important for a successful perennial bed: spiky Crocosmia, spreading Dianthus, and pretty round-leafed Baptismia australis which has an herbal gray cast to its foliage.

Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash

Butterfly and humming bird gardens are always fun. Certainly the tiny hummers appreciate blooms where they can dip in and steal a drop of nectar, but I’ve seen them take a tiny taste of flat but colorful yarrow. My son gifts me a huge fuchsia for Mother’s Day which is the very day I usually spot the first humming bird. They love this plant! Hummers prefer trumpet shaped blooms they can dip their long bills to drink the nectar, but I have observed them sipping from a daisy.

 

Shade gardens are wonderful underneath shaded walkways. Besides the enormous varieties of hosta, spring bulbs can be followed with blue bells and other shade loving perennials. Brunneria is a precious substitute for hosta. Deer treat it with disdain. Begonias have a large variety for annual shade; my favorite is non-stop begonia in their vivid colors. Spring blooming shrubs are glorious such as rhododendrons, azaleas, dogwood and many others that liven up the woods before the trees leaf out.

Cutting gardens are wonderful for those who appreciate fresh cut bouquets for inside. Reserve a bed especially for: gladiola, tall zinnias, phlox, sunflowers, snapdragons, lisianthus, lilies, just a few of the varieties that are splendid cut flowers.

 

… which leads me to call attention to my latest Cozy Adventure/ Mystery, Whispers of Danger and Love.

The heroine is a landscape architect who speaks gardening. She struggles with a client who demands a cutting garden midsummer, (and a hunky detective who seems bound to destroy her plants.) I enjoyed relaxing in her garden even as I created it from my own imaginings. It was also fun to watch the sparks fly between a couple who knew each other as children but must readjust their thinking as adults.

About the Writer/Gardener

Emma Lane is a gifted author who writes cozy mysteries as Janis Lane, Regency as Emma Lane, and spice as Sunny Lane.

She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at Herbtique and Plant Nursery, the nursery she and her son own.

Look for information about writing and plants on Emma’s new website. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma’s face.

Stay connected to Emma on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check out the things that make Emma smile on Pinterest.

Musings from a Writer’s Brain–How to Find Your Perfect Mate by Emma Lane

Tags

cozy mystery, Emma Lane, essay about love, Murder in the Junkyard, Musings from a Writer's Brain

from Emma Lane

The way I see it, it’s all about nature, selection of the fittest et al. Mother Nature is a clever old gal. She will coat her choice for you in pink clouds and rosy dreams of romance. Matter of fact, I’m convinced she invented romance. It’s the unidentifiable essence that attracts one gender to the other seemingly without reason or plan.

I mentioned her cleverness, right? What she wants is a balance, which, perhaps, is all about the continuation of the species. I can find no other explanation why I wound up with a mate the exact opposite of me. Couples are, by definition, two halves which make a whole. I have allowed for the attraction of natural curiosity, which is present in all humans, and perhaps all living things. I stare with blank shock at a man who will eat oatmeal every morning for 12 months of the year. And be content for that meal to continue indefinitely. Even if I ate the most delicious sausage link for six mornings, and loved it, the seventh day I would vomit. I have an innate need for variety. He is grounded in consistency. It plays out over most of our personal choices the same way. Our tastes are opposite.

I could attribute these differences to the male/female preferences, but must pay attention when, in the last coffee klatch, one lady swears she loves oatmeal for breakfast, but her husband needs variety. (He might be the one with the wobbly marriage, but you didn’t hear it from me.) No, I keep coming to the same conclusion.

On the whole, Mother Nature wants solidly conceived children, also a balanced family unit. So, she takes a person of a certain persuasion and a person with the opposite preferences and MATES them. For posterity. The glue that keeps these people in a constant tug of war is the very thing we call ‘romance.’ Sometimes we call it, ‘he’s driving me crazy.’ But it produces lovely well-balanced children, and fairly comfortable living conditions on a daily basis. He kills spiders and I deal with his mother. Mother Nature smiles benevolently down on couples grinding against one another (that’s not dirty, I swear) smoothing and rounding the obstinate edges, while romance acts as a sweet buffer.

The proof of my theory is when you see a couple in their waning days holding hands and deferring to their spouse’s tastes. He’s learned to eat oatmeal only three times a week and she joins him now and then. They smile at each other with fond memories of epic battles fought and won, mostly remembering only how sweet it was making up.

The End (Flipping the pages of my pamphlet on how to introduce variety . . .)

Here is a brief intro to the cozy mystery series Emma writes as Janis Lane.

MURDER in the JUNKYARD sees the demise of a man no one likes, a romance, and plans for a wedding as Detective Fowler and his friends keep their small-town America free from danger.

Detective Kevin Fowler is furious that low life has targeted his town where people live in blissful safety. Brenda Bryant is out junkn’ for good things when she stumbles over the grotesque body of a man beloved by no one. Suspense heats up when large sums of money are found in two different places. Drug money is suspected and Brenda targeted by someone who wants the money returned. Detective Fowler faces surprise after surprise as he peels back the surface of Hubbard, New York and deals with its shocking underbelly. Meanwhile romance infiltrates the group of friends with a wedding in the making.

AMAZON BUY LINK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emma Lane is a gifted author who writes cozy mysteries as Janis Lane, Regency as Emma Lane, and spice as Sunny Lane.

She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at Herbtique and Plant Nursery, the nursery she and her son own.

Look for information about writing and plants on Emma’s new website. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma’s face.

Stay connected to Emma on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check out the things that make Emma smile on Pinterest.

A Writer’s Garden–Puppy Gardening 101 by M.K. Scott

Tags

A Writer’s Garden, amateur sleuth, cozy mystery, flowers, Free book limited time offer, Garden blog, garden safety for pets, Gardening with dogs, husband and wife writing team, MK Scott, Wedding Cake Blues, woman sleuth

Welcome to A Writer’s Garden where writers who are gardeners or just love gardens will be sharing their garden and flower stories, as well as a bit about their writing. Today’s writer/gardener guest is husband and wife author team M.K. Scott, co-starring puppy Janeway, who was the inspiration for this garden blog.  Welcome, M.K.!

Thanks, Catherine.

Writers have to write, even if their work never gets published. Gardeners have to garden even if they decided to get a lab puppy during 2020. Welcome to Puppy Gardening 101. With a puppy, we opted for a new fence, which resulted in digging up all my irises along the fence row and transferring them to my gated gnome garden. An excellent decision because Iris are toxic to dogs. Here’s a complete list of what could be fatal to your pet courtesy to ASPCA.

I discovered many of my standbys were toxic to my four-legged chewing machine. She showed a partiality to roses, which aren’t toxic.

Janeway, named after Star Trek Captain Janeway, unearthed my transplanted rosebushes that I babied to keep alive. Fences only increase the challenge. So, what’s a gardener and puppy owner to do?

• 

• 

Most of my plants have moved to the front yard, gnome garden or on top of the picnic table. Hubby built four high gardens that are about three feet off the ground. Inside of those I planted marigolds and petunias.

Outside the gnome garden, but still fenced, I planted roses, sunflowers, and zinnias.  The list of safe flowers is considerably shorter than the toxic one.

Fortunately, the dog safe flowers grow well in our area. As puppy Janeway grows into her full size, I realize potentially toxic plants may not pose as much a danger to her as to a toy dog. Often, it is the root or bulbs that are toxic. Thinking back on our former dogs, most had no interest in the gardens or the flowers, except for Chance, a boxer mix. I used to watch with great interest a bud ready to bloom only to find the flower vanished after it bloomed. Once I peeped out my window and caught Chance in the act of snapping the blooms off my yellow rose bushes and eating them. Apparently, he loved flowers, too.

While dogs may not have the same appreciation for flowers as gardeners do, they love to interact with them. When Janeway greets me with the stem of a blossoming flower, I take it from her and thank her pretending she meant to pick it just for me. It works out better this way.  I tell myself she won’t always be this way. If not, I always have my gnome garden.

About M K Scott

M. K. Scott is the husband and wife writing team behind cozy mystery series, The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries, The Talking Dog Detective Agency, The Way Over the Hill Gang, and Cupid’s Catering Company.

 Morgan K Wyatt is the general wordsmith, while her husband, Scott, is the grammar hammer and physics specialist. He uses his engineering skills to explain how fast a body falls when pushed over a cliff and various other felonious activities.

The Internet and experts in the field provide forensic information, while the recipes and B and B details require a more hands on approach. Morgan’s daughter, who manages a hotel, provides guest horror stories to fuel the plot lines. The couple’s dog, Jane, is the inspiration behind Jasper, Donna’s dog.

 Working together and still happily married.

MK Scott Social Media Links  Website Facebook Twitter Amazon

Wedding Cake Blues

By MK Scott

Della always dreamed of owning a bakery and catering service. But the fate of her dream come true rests on how well her business, Cupid’s Catering Company, pulls off the wedding of the decade.

As she and her team work their magic in the kitchen, the lavish affair takes a troubling turn. The bridegroom has vanished, but in a strange twist of events, she’s the only one who’s concerned about his disappearance.

As rumors that the groom-to-be caught a case of cold feet and whisperings about his ties to unsavory characters swirling, Della trades in her chef’s hat for a sleuth fedora and follows the clues.

Can she find the bridegroom, save her bakery, and fend off her mother’s matchmaking attempts before it’s too late?

Currently, Wedding Cakes Blues is free on Bookfunnel the month of June, Here is the link for the free book.  

It may also be purchased from Amazon for those who prefer that method.

Wednesday Writers–Excerpt from Snapshot Suspicions by Janis Lane

Tags

cozy mystery, Janis Lane, millionaire hero, photography, romance, Snapshot Suspicions, Wednesday Writers, wildlife

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I hope you’re all wearing the green, so you don’t get pinched, if that’s even a thing in today’s world. It was when I attended school years ago. If I forgot to wear green, I always claimed an exemption because I had green eyes. The potential pinchers didn’t know what to do with that, but it gave me time to escape. Wednesday Writers isn’t celebrating St. Paddy’s today on the blog. Instead, we have guest author Janis Lane who will be sharing an excerpt from her romantic cozy mystery Snapshot Suspicions. Welcome, Janis!

Snapshot Suspicions is an adventure with Abby, beautiful, vagabond wildlife photographer, and Adam, ruggedly handsome, millionaire protector of the environment.

A dangerous wildlife mystery requires the close attention of Adam and the local sheriff as Abby deals with two hired goons stalking her with a grudge. Basking in the rosy contentment of their love, Abby and Adam must trust each other as they encounter the first rift in their relationship. An engaging puppy presents a conundrum and a terrifying incident.

Abby discovers she can enjoy photographing subjects (AKC) other than wildlife and delights in setting up her own office, while Adam breathes a sign of relief when Abby makes a permanent commitment. Could she finally be thinking of a life time pledge to him?

EXCERPT
As she entered the room, a long arm snaked out and pulled her swiftly toward a broad chest. Her face was again covered with kisses that trailed down her face, sidetracked to explore a curled ear with a sip on a tiny lobe, and continued a path of kisses until it landed against her lips, which were blossoming into a reluctant smile.

“Adam.”

The sandy-haired giant lifted his head from the places he had been attending and settled his piercing blue eyes on her green ones with a satisfied sigh.

“Eve?”

He sat down in a kitchen chair and pulled her onto his lap, wrapping her in a warm embrace and tucking her head on his shoulder. She snuggled contentedly against him. What a wonderful way to greet the day, she thought. Everyone should have a handsome blond giant to cuddle with . . . She could feel herself drifting off.

“Good morning, Abby, my tree sprite. Did you sleep well? I thought you might stay snuggled in bed this morning after such a late night.”

“Adam.” She took a deep breath inhaling the familiar fragrance that she loved. It was all Adam who was so dear to her. She rubbed her face into his shoulder and allowed him to cuddle her for a minute more. Her body relaxed against him, her hand half encircled his rock hard forearm, but her mind struggled with her problem. She knew she had to nip this in the bud if she were ever to have peace. This was exactly what she had feared when she resisted moving in with him, even though she knew she loved him.

“Adam.” She turned her head to stare into his intensely blue eyes, and then shut hers. There was always the danger of falling into those loving pools of blue if a girl were not careful. She knew from experience how mesmerizing they could be.

“You’ve got to control that dog. I know he’s young and means no harm, but you promised to train him. I can’t keep buying new sneakers every single day.” She felt Adam’s deep chuckle before she heard it. His chest erupted in those sounds that brought a smile to her face in spite of her annoyance with the situation.

Buy now on Amazon

Janis Lane is the pen-name for gifted author Emma Lane who writes cozy mysteries as Janis, Regency as Emma, and spice as Sunny Lane.

She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at Herbtique and Plant Nursery, the nursery she and her son own.

Look for information about writing and plants on Emma’s website. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma’s face.

Stay connected to Emma on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check out the things that make Emma smile on Pinterest.

A Writer’s Garden–Garden Trials, Successes and Oddites by M.K. Scott

Tags

A Writer's Garden, Clean fiction, cozy mystery, flowers and vegetables, Garden blog, M.K. Scott, On St. Nick's Trail

Perhaps I’ll remember 2020 as the year we worked on the backyard. Being outside with the flowers, plants, and the bees makes me happy.

Our family goal centered on spending more time outside. With this in mind, we decided on building a new patio and screen porch with the latter becoming my summer office.

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  Garden at dusk

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  Sunflower

The problem with doing something different is it involves change and in our case, moving three blooming rose bushes. Since I couldn’t predict when the workers would finish, I decided to use black bags for gardening, which I kept moving depending on the construction zone for the day.

Garden Bags

Rosemary and basil continue to grow, although the other herbs expired partly due to the season and the bags drying out despite daily watering.

One of the pluses of bag gardening is the ability to move the bags to a sunny location when needed or into the kitchen when a late frost hits. At the end of the season, just dump the soil into the compost bin and save the bag for next year. Sweet potatoes flourished in a larger green bag, but not so with the tomatoes. The round spherical fruit that is sometimes labeled a vegetable is a big deal in Indiana. There’s an unofficial race to have the first red tomato before July 4^th.

Sweet potato vine

The round spherical fruit that is sometimes labeled a vegetable is a big deal in Indiana. There’s an unofficial race to have the first red tomato before July 4^thIt wasn’t my intention to run a tomato experiment, but I did inadvertently. Several tomato plants flourished in the ground surrounded by chicken wire to discourage our nighttime shoppers. Three I grew among some Blue Lake green beans, another plant shot up in a large container, and a single yellow tomato plant simply existed in a black bag.  The best producers were the ground ones. As for my container tomato, it had tons of tomatoes, but never any ripe ones. I discovered the reason while typing one day within our newly completed screen porch. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched a chipmunk scamper up the side of the pot. Then, carefully balancing on the rim, he reached for a ripe pear tomato with its forepaws. What I wouldn’t give to have a snapshot of the moment.

Tomato

Well, I learned something that day. Chipmunks like yellow pear tomatoes. Instead of getting upset, I had to smile. It did explain the mystery of the missing ripe tomatoes. But, no worries, I have plenty of tomatoes. In fact, if you’re in the neighborhood, I’d be glad to share my vegetable bounty.

If you’re worried about the roses, they’re back to blooming, again. My secret is banana peels and watering the plants every single day. A single banana peel, chopped, and buried near the rose roots provides enough potassium for the entire season.

coleus, marigolds, black-eyed Susan, mint

My successes include reviving the roses, a strong tomato harvest, and figuring out the mystery of the missing pear tomatoes. Tomato plants don’t do well in the black bags qualifies as my learning experience. Oddities would include my veggie-loving chipmunk and a red squirrel we refer to as Mr. McNutty, who knocks on my window whenever the birdfeeder is empty.

Happy harvest, friends.

About the Writer/Gardener:

M. K. Scott is the husband and wife writing team behind The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries, The Talking Dog Detective Agency, which is set In Indianapolis, and The Way Over the Hill Gang series.  Morgan K Wyatt is the general wordsmith, while her husband, Scott, is the grammar hammer and physics specialist. He uses his engineering skills to explain how fast a body falls when pushed over a cliff and various other felonious activities. Morgan’s daughter, who works at a hotel, has contributed a guest horror tale or two to fuel plot lines along with housekeeping details. Overall, the series are a family effort.

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On St. Nick’s Trail (99 cents and on Kindle Unlimited)

By Morgan Wyatt

Private Eye Nala Bonne and her trusty crime-fighting rescue dog Max spend their days surfing social media for telltale signs of disability fraud and philandering husbands, but when a lucrative opportunity to investigate something entirely different, Nala readily agrees to take the case.

The task: find a missing Santa impersonator

Unfortunately for her, someone is dead set against the search and will stop at nothing to drive Nala and Max out of town before their search even begins.

Can this dynamic duo locate the missing Santa before it’s too late?

Wednesday Writers-Sandpiper Affair by Janis Lane

Tags

cozy mystery, Janis Lane, romantic suspense, Sandpiper Affair, Wednesday Writers

Today’s Wednesday Writers guest is Janis Lane, who is a frequent contributor to the blogs. She’ll be sharing an excerpt of her romantic suspense/cozy mystery Sandpiper Affair. So without further ado, here’s an excerpt from Sandpiper Affair.

 

Abby Naycomb, wildlife photographer, found more than scintillating images of the birds of Central Florida. A handsome park ranger turns her world upside down even as a criminal stalker seeks to threaten her life.

Who knew trespassing in the restrictive area of a Florida State Park to get the perfect shot of the sand hill crane family would wind up with Abby Naycomb, wildlife photographer extraordinaire, meeting the most handsome park ranger in the world? Mating/nesting birds were the subject of her quest but finding those intense blue eyes in the lens of her camera was distracting and hormone inciting.

Adam Rawlings, millionaire park ranger, was as shocked as Abby when she accidentally discovered a murdered man buried in a shallow grave in the sand.

Face to face with an exciting relationship with Adam, the perfect man, leaves her no excuse for backing away from a growing intimacy. Vagabond Abby must consider relocating if she wants to continue an invaluable relationship with Adam, the original home town hero.

Abby struggles as she continues to work deep in the breathtaking wilds of Central Florida while trying to ignore the menace of a serious and threatening stalker. Her task was to reexamine long held premises and prejudices while admiring the southern flora and fauna through the lens of her camera. Bird and nature lovers alert.

SHORT TEASER
Busted in Bird land. Still…what a calendar he would make with that uniform, that smile, those shoulders. She stifled a sigh of pure visual pleasure.

You had better stop it, Miss Smarty. He has the authority to fine and kick you out of the park permanently if he so chooses. Holy Moly– love a uniformed hunk!

Stoppit!

She stifled a giggle which was riotously rolling around deep inside her, threatening to break out. He continued to loom, gazing thoughtfully while she fidgeted in her warm nest sheltered by the dune. Surrounding them, the sporadic wind blew the smell of something baking in the sun. With her face turned upward and her eyes half-closed against the glare, she awaited her fate. She offered a weak smile while trying to bring into focus his face which was back lit by the bright sunlight. It couldn’t hurt, she thought, and tried for puppy dog eyes pleading for mercy.

“Leave this area, and I’ll forget your lapse of good manners–this time. Don’t let me catch you trespassing on restricted lands again. This is a nature preserve. Visitors may not wander about– especially during nesting season,” he added giving her a stern look. “And that goes for well-meaning, good-looking, lady photographers as well.”

BUY LINK

About the Author:

Janis Lane is the pen-name for gifted author Emma Lane who writes cozy mysteries as Janis, Regency as Emma, and spice as Sunny Lane.

She lives in Western New York where winter is snowy, spring arrives with rave reviews, summer days are long and velvet, and fall leaves are riotous in color. At long last she enjoys the perfect bow window for her desk where she is treated to a year-round panoramic view of nature. Her computer opens up a fourth fascinating window to the world. Her patient husband is always available to help with a plot twist and encourage Emma to never quit. Her day job is working with flowers at Herbtique and Plant Nursery, the nursery she and her son own.

Look for information about writing and plants on Emma’s new website. Leave a comment or a gardening question and put a smile on Emma’s face.

Stay connected to Emma on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check out the things that make Emma smile on Pinterest.

Tasty Tuesdays–Good Morning Breakfast Bread from HL Carpenter

Tags

Breakfast bread, Catherine Castle's Food blog Tasty Tuesdays, cozy mystery, food blog, HL Carpenter, Hot Tea Month, Murder by the Books, Recipes, Tasty Tuesdays, yeast bread

Good Morning Bread

from HL Carpenter

It’s week three of Hot Tea Month and I have another recipe for you to celebrate tea. Today’s Tasty Tuesday’s blog recipe isn’t a tea recipe, but it doesn’t have tea in it. The recipe is courtesy of mother and daughter writing team HL Carpenter who are sharing their Breakfast Bread recipe. While I don’t make yeast breads often anymore, because of the kneading process, this bread looks easy, tasty, and festive. I think when I try it I’ll use a flavored herb tea from my stash.

While you’re enjoying your breakfast bread, why not settle back with their newest cozy mystery release Murder by the Books, available from Amazon.
Books and Bread. What more can the soul want? Enjoy!

Breakfast Bread

1½ cups dried mixed fruit (we used one 5-ounce package of mixed cranberries, cherries, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries, and filled in the remainder with dried cranberries)
½ cup warm tea, any flavor
1 package regular yeast
½ cup warm water
2 tbsp. butter
½ cup coconut milk
3 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. honey
1 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup nuts of your choice (we used pecans and pistachios)

Spray 2 loaf pans with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.

Soak dried fruit in bowl with warm tea. Set aside.

In separate bowl, add yeast to warm water. Set aside in a warm draft free location.

Melt butter.

Mix coconut milk, sugar, honey, salt, and egg. Add melted butter and stir. Next, add yeast and water mixture and stir.

Mix cinnamon and flour. Add to liquid ingredients and mix well.

Drain fruit. Add fruit and nuts to dough. Use your hands to mix, adding additional flour by tablespoons if necessary.

Let dough rise 1 hour. Punch down, divide in half, and shape into two equal loaves. Put loaves in prepared pans and let rise 40 minutes.

Heat oven to 350° F. Bake loaves 30 minutes. Cool in pan 5 minutes and remove to rack.

Serve warm or cold with butter or topping of your choice.

While you’re enjoying your bread, we invite you to sample an excerpt from our soon-to-be-released mystery.

Certified public accountant Fae Childers is not an embezzler, despite the belief of the accounting firm that fires her for stealing. But proving her innocence is harder than convincing an IRS agent to allow a deduction. She’s lost her mother, her job, her fiancé, and her self-respect. She’s running out of money and the lease is about to expire on her apartment.

Then the fortune-telling grandmother Fae never knew existed, whose name and psychic abilities she now learns are also hers, issues a challenge from beyond the grave—a challenge that brings Fae face to face with murder, embezzlement, romance, and a hidden family legacy.

When the mystery of Fae’s past collides with the troubles of her present, the situation veers out of control. Her very life is threatened. Who can she trust? The man she’s falling in love with? The former fiancé who has already betrayed her once? Or only herself?

With justice, romance, and her future at stake, Fae must overcome personal and professional obstacles to save herself and those she loves. And she’s going to have to do it fast, before someone else dies.

Mother/daughter author duo HL Carpenter write family-friendly fiction from their studios in Carpenter Country, a magical place that, like their stories, is unreal but not untrue. When they’re not writing, they enjoy exploring the Land of What-If and practicing the fine art of Curiosity. Visit their website to enjoy gift reads and excerpts and to find out what’s happeni
ng in Carpenter Country.

Stay connected on Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedin, Google+, GoodReads,
and their Amazon Author Page.

Wednesday Writers–A Deadly Dissolution by Leeann Betts

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A Deadly Dissolution, Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, choosing a compelling occupation, cozy mystery, ebook giveaway of Deadly Dissolution, excerpt from A Deadly Dissolution, forensic accounting, Leeann Betts

 

Today’s guest on Wednesday Writers is Leeann Betts. She’s going to be talking about how she chose the occupation of the heroine of her cozy mystery A Deadly Dissolution. Leeann is also giving away a copy of  Deadly Dissolution. Read on to discover how to enter and get a sneak peek at the book. And now it’s time to welcome Leeann!

 

Choosing a Compelling Occupation

By Leeann Betts

When I sat down 15 years ago to see if I had one book in me, I had no clue where to start.

And now, all this time and more than 30 books later, every time I face the blank page, it’s the same. Where to start?

I’m an avid reader of mysteries, particularly what is now known as cozy mysteries, but at the time were simply called Agatha Christie-like mysteries. If you mentioned the name “Jessica Fletcher”, and said your books were like that TV show, everybody knew exactly what you meant. Amateur sleuth, small town settings that eventually expanded into New York City and major locations around the world, and a personal reason to solve the crime—usually a friend or relative was the victim or the suspect.

That was my basis. But I wanted a main character more like—well, like me. I didn’t have any idea how a teacher thought—Jessica. Or an older woman in a hamlet in England—Miss Marple. Or a retired detective from Belgium—Hercule Poirot.

I needed someone I could relate to. That hadn’t been done to death. No pun intended.

So I went to the library, and started strolling through the children’s section on occupation. And the word Forensic jumped out at me. CSI and NCIS were hot shows at the time, so I picked it up. And that’s where I learned about Forensic Accounting. In the days when I was in college and in the business workforce, we called those guys the Auditors or the Inspectors. They came in and went through all our work to make certain we were doing it correctly. To make certain nobody was embezzling funds. To ascertain clients’ trust funds were secure.

Which opened a whole new world of possibilities for me. Situations involving money are all over the news. Hardly a day goes by but we hear of someone stealing from a church, a business, a Girl Scout troop. And if you’re anything like me, I wonder how they managed it. How did they go undetected for so many years? What did they use the money for? Was it a one-time thing, they put it back, and hoped nobody would notice? (No Accounting for Murder). Or was it an ongoing theft to line their pockets? (There Was A Crooked Man). Perhaps gambling or other bad choices were involved. (Unbalanced) Maybe organized crime is behind the problem? (Five and Twenty Blackbirds) Identity theft? (Broke, Busted, and Disgusted) Maybe a divorce? (Hidden Assets) Or even counterfeiting? (Petty Cash) And what about using a natural event, like a lunar eclipse, as the inciting incident (A Deadly Dissolution).

Being a forensic accountant requires specialized training, and involves ferreting out financial information, understanding its implications, and applying that understanding to the situation. It also means preparing reports, spilling the beans on somebody, and testifying in court.

And while a lot of people think accountants are boring, Carly Turnquist is out to prove them wrong.

Just in case you think forensic accounting can’t be an exciting or important job, just remember: Al Capone was imprisoned for tax evasion by the 1930’s equivalent of a forensic accountant.

Question: When reading a series, do you start at the beginning, or do you like to mix them up?

One randomly-drawn reader will receive a free ebook of A Deadly Dissolution. To enter the drawing leave a comment. The winner will be randomly chosen from the blog commenters on July 3. By leaving a comment, you are agreeing to the use of your email to contact the winner for delivery of the prize.

And here’s a sneak peek at the book.

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A Deadly Dissolution

By Leeann Betts

The door to the mayor’s office opened, and a woman dressed primly in a long sleeved sweater, pencil-line skirt, and low-heeled pumps exited, files in her arm.

Carly smiled and dipped her head. “Hi, Evie.”

A flush ran up the middle-aged secretary’s neck and cheeks, complementing her dark hair. “Carly. He’s ready. Go right on in.”

So unlike Mayor Wells’s bulldog-like gatekeeper, Miss Cook, who retired after the unfortunate incidents involving a nudist colony and missing money.

Carly nodded and waved, then entered the office. The room had been repainted and updated in the months since the election, and now boasted a cheery shade of buttery yellow on the walls, offset with a brilliant white on the ceiling and trim. A potted plant of daisies picked up the palette, lending a feeling of being in a field on a warm summer’s day.

A happy place.

The door leading to Mayor Akerman’s office stood open, and she crossed the room, her shoes tapping on the refinished hardwood floors. She caught a glimpse of the mayor, paused and rapped, entering when he waved her in.

Walter Akerman sat behind his desk, papers spread out. Building plans of some sort. He rolled the documents and set them to one side, then stood and offered his hand. “Thanks for coming so quickly, Carly.”

She returned the shake. “You caught me at a good time. Just finished a project for a client. And you said it was important.”

He gestured to two wingback chairs set around a low coffee table. “Let’s sit here. I always feel like I’ve been called to the principal’s office when somebody sits across the desk from me.”

She chuckled then sat. Despite her misgivings about his photo in the hallway, she was going to like this man. “Been there, done it.”

“I bet you have.” He lifted a coffee pot and raised a brow in question, to which she nodded.

“Let’s settle in for a minute. We haven’t had a chance to get to know each other.”

“I’d like that.” She had nothing better to do right now. She sipped her coffee. Delicious. Better coffee? Or perhaps the china cup and saucer. She’d need to be careful not to break it. Or spill it on herself. “Are you settling in to the job?”

He glanced around the office. “Think so. Sometimes I wonder why I’m not more nervous about the whole thing. Maybe it’s because I don’t know enough to be worried.”

Yes, she was definitely going to like him. “Been there, done it.”

“How about you?” He peered at her over the rim of his cup. “You’re not a native, are you?”

“No. Moved here when I married Mike almost fifteen years ago. Most people accept that I’m here to stay. Unless if I try to get involved in important things like choosing what color to paint the library. Then I’m shunned like Typhoid Mary.”

Folks in Bear Cove were a funny lot. Despite solving multiple murders, saving people’s lives, revealing nefarious plots to embezzle or steal, those born and raised in the town still held her at arm’s length. Except for a few compassionate souls, like Mrs. Olsen at the pharmacy, or Jacob

Roy at the garage.

The mayor set his cup on the table. “Understood. Thankfully I’m at least a third generation native.”

“If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have won the election.”

“Right. The last time, I ran against a man related to an original town father. Nobody stood a chance there.”

“I’ve heard good things from folks.” That was true. She wouldn’t offer up empty flattery—not even to get a town contract. “I think the town needs some peace and quiet. After all that’s happened in the last few years.”

“Which is why I wanted to use somebody local to look at the town’s financial records. If I brought in a big firm from outside, word would be around town in about two minutes.”

She pulled out her notebook and pen. “What’s the problem?”

“Money is being moved around to various unconnected accounts, including assets and liabilities, from expenses and income. With no obvious reason. No explanation other than a notation about correcting a previous error. A couple of those I can understand, but this is dozens of them.”

“Has something changed in the accounting methods used by the town?”

“Such as?”

She glanced up from her notes. “Have you changed your accounting method from cash to accrual? Or vice versa? Or did the fiscal year end change?”

He shook his head. “Nothing like that. We’ve used the same accounting firm for years. I checked with them. They don’t know anything about it. All of the entries happened in the last six months or so.”

“Since your election.”

“Right.”

“And you think?”

“I think somebody is stealing from the town, and trying to make it look like I’m involved.”

 

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Want to read more? You can find A Deadly Dissolution at Amazon and Smashwords

 

About the Author:

Leeann Betts writes contemporary suspense, while her real-life persona, Donna Schlachter, pens historical suspense. She has released seven titles in her cozy mystery series, By the Numbers, with number 8, A Deadly Dissolution, releasing in June. In addition, Leeann has written a devotional for accountants, bookkeepers, and financial folk, Counting the Days, and with her real-life persona, Donna Schlachter, has published two books on writing, Nuggets of Writing Gold and More Nuggets of Writing Gold, a compilation of essays, articles, and exercises on the craft. She publishes a free quarterly newsletter that includes a book review and articles on writing and books of interest to readers and writers. You can subscribe at www.LeeannBetts.com or follow Leeann at www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com All books are available on Amazon.com in digital and print, and at Smashwords.com in digital format.

You can also find Leeann on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1pQSOqV 

 

Through A Writer’s Garden with Morgan K Wyatt

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bee bath, bees, butterfly garden, cozy mystery, Drop Dead Handsome, M.K. Scott, Morgan K. Wyatt, sunflowers, vanishing bee population

BEEing Responsible

 

The vanishing bee population alarmed me enough to research the subject. There isn’t one cause, but many, including insecticides and lack of appropriate flowers. This inspired me to create a bee and butterfly garden.

The first thing I did was used no insecticides. Second, I used no herbicides. Many of the wild flowers, thistles, and clover that herbicides kill actually feed the bees. Natural fertilizers, such as crushed eggshells for calcium, coffee or tea grounds for growth spurts, and chopped up banana peels for potassium, replaced commercial ones.

An insect house installed under the eaves of my shed provided a quiet place for the bees to rest and escape the weather. Two bees of the bumble variety took up residence. I could no longer visit the house without the aid of binoculars since bees will leave if disturbed.

Now, I was ready for the planting part. I did have some butterfly bushes, roses, and coneflowers from the previous years. I quadrupled the number of sunflowers I usually plant to line the fence. The local master gardener sale supplied the rest of my flowers at a remarkable price.

Marigolds and daisies of the single bloom variety grow side by side with the wild flowers. Single bloom plants provide more nectar than the showy double bloom type. Once committed to the idea of a bee garden I needed flowers that bloomed from spring to fall. Crocus in the spring, coneflowers and Flavia in the summer, among others, sunflowers in the late August and at the end of the season the late blooming goldenrod, asters, and sedum would serve.

Herbs also provide food for the bees and butterflies. Some I harvested, but others I allowed to bloom and go to seed. This year I skipped the tropicals and exotic plants and went for native flowers such as columbine and bee balm.

When I water the flowers, liquid settles on the broad leaf ones creating tiny ponds that attracted bees. This inspired me to make my own bee bath by using a shallow dish filled pebbles and rainwater. The saucer stays in the same place on the picnic table making it easy for the bees to find it.

As for the bees, I have dozens in the yard. The bees pollinated my garden earlier than the previous year. Colorful butterflies visit almost daily. The unexpected plus of my bee garden are the hummingbirds that visit.

Now, I don’t want to mislead and give the impression that everything was easy. Some of my young plants suffered a bunny invasion, which I used fox urine to deter future hop-by feedings. The spring bulb plants were the winter food supply for voles. I’ll be replanting with less vole-friendly bulbs this year.

With so many plants and the spotty summer rains, I installed a rain barrel to help with the watering. The fifty-five gallon drum waters the entire bee garden once. In retrospect, the bee garden is a personal triumph for both the bees and myself.

 

About the Author:

Morgan writes under the names of Morgan K Wyatt and M.K. Scott. The Morgan K Wyatt novels are traditional romance and romantic suspense, which means they’re the PG variety.

The M.K. Scott books are cozy mysteries she co-writes with husband, Scott. The most recent cozy mystery is Drop Dead Handsome.

When not writing, Morgan can be found in the garden spring, summer and fall. Winter allows her time to plan next year’s garden.